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The New Lion defies market drift to scoop Turners
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Wed 12 Mar 2025
Watch a full replay, below, of how the six-year-old struck for the Skelton brothers in the opening race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival
The New Lion lived up to the hype with a battling victory in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival.
The six-year-old is trained by Dan Skelton and was ridden by his brother Harry, who was sporting a black eye as well as the silks of his new owner JP McManus after the Kayf Tara gelding was purchased for a significant sum of money from Darren Yates.
He was a 3-1 chance having been the market leader and was ridden at the rear of the pack, stalking the Willie Mullins-trained 6-4 favourite Final Demand before breaking through the field to cross the line three-quarters of a length ahead of Gordon Elliott’s The Yellow Clay.
Skelton Sr said: "Our mouths probably ran away with us earlier this season, but he just looked so good.
"Harry gave him an outstanding ride there, so patient. It's not a coming-of-age ride because he's been doing it for so long, but what a great ride.
"And the horse was just phenomenal. I trusted him and going to the last, with the three of them there, I believed he'd win. I always believed he'd win.
Harry Skelton and The New Lion return in glory (focusonracing.com)
"In my heart, it just feels like it would take a very good one to get past this horse.
"I think he could be the best we've had, but this is uncharted territory for me as a trainer in my own right. When I worked for Paul (Nicholls) we had all those superstars, but I haven't had a horse who can do things like this one.
"His simplicity is his greatest asset and he's so easy."
The winning rider - who picked up his striking eye injury when kicked by a foal on Sunday - said: "He's got it all. You hope one day in your life to come across a good one and he is a good one. I'm just delighted he's come and done it on the day.
"This place is magic and it can give you anything. When you get a winner here it is special. You saw what happened here yesterday and you can easily be on the other side of it, but when you get a winner here it is special."
What they said afterwards
Dan Skelton talks with Lydia Hislop
Harry Skelton reflects on victory and reveals the cause of his injured eye
JP McManus on his 80th Festival triumph
Gordon Elliott reflects on the defeat of The Yellow Clay
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