Skelton not doubting Lion’s heart for a Festival fight

The New Lion and Final Demand put their unbeaten records on the line when they go head to head in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

The New Lion won a Market Rasen bumper on his solitary start last season before being switched to timber for the current campaign.

He has taken that in his stride and is three from three for Dan Skelton this season and was so impressive when he won the Challow Hurdle at Newbury in December that he was snapped up by JP McManus and will be making his debut in the famous green and gold hoops at Prestbury Park.

After those three victories without serious challenge, Skelton was asked if he would have liked to have seen The New Lion have more hard-fought battles in readiness for the Festival.

He replied: “No, not really! That other side to him is there – don’t you worry!

“The season has gone beautifully. We really liked him before he ran in his bumper and obviously we liked him even more after. When we started schooling on the grass in the autumn he just did some things that other horses couldn’t do at that point.

“I don’t know why. His brain, his ability – it was all there to see. He’s just got it and it’s hard to explain why he has it and others don’t, but he just has that relaxed, easy way about him. We love him.”

Asked if he could see The New Lion becoming a future Champion Hurdle contender, Skelton replied: “I don’t want to be one of those who puts the cart before the horse and start worrying about next year in a presumptuous manner, but I can see him coming back in trip. I don’t ever see us going to three miles unless results dictate that that’s the only way we have to go.”

After cantering home in a point-to-point, the Willie Mullins-trained Final Demand has barely had to get out of first gear in comfortably winning at Limerick and the Dublin Racing Festival.

Mullins has one eye on the larger obstacles with the Walk In The Park gelding, but is targeting the Grade One prize before turning his attention to chasing.

The master of Closutton said: “Looking at him, he looks a real chaser. He must be 17.2, he’s as strong as any horse I’ve had. Strength wise, he probably looks more like Florida Pearl, he’s so strong through the body whereas Galopin Des Champs is a very different type of horse, he’s much more evenly balanced through the body and a lighter-framed individual.

“This fellow is a big unit and I’m happy to do that (the Turners) before going novice chasing next season.”

The Yellow Clay will also be putting an unbeaten record over hurdles on the line following a victory at Down Royal, plus a pair of triumphs at Navan and another success at Naas.

The Gordon Elliott-trained son of Yeats was sixth of 19 on his only previous visit to Cheltenham in the Champion Bumper last season, and the trainer said: “He’s not flashy and probably doesn’t get the attention he deserves.

“He ran very well in the Champion Bumper last year and was second in Punchestown. He’s four from four over hurdles, he knows how to win and he’s got a good attitude. He’s a horse I like.

“You’ve got the Skelton horse that looks good and Willie’s horse that beat Wingmen (Final Demand). The Yellow Clay beat Wingmen, so on form there’s not much between them.

“The Yellow Clay showed a bit of boot from the fourth-last to the second-last which I was happy to see. Going into that I thought he might be a three-miler, but he showed that bit of speed that good horses need to win.”

Potters Charm has two victories and a silver medal from three previous trips to Cheltenham and assistant trainer Willy Twiston-Davies said: “I’m hoping he will be back to his best and his work has been good, but you never know until you get to the course.

“He’s had a good bit of racing this season, but his last piece of work was good.”