Two of the most prominent trainers in National Hunt racing have offered their candid assessments in the lead-up to one of the season's most anticipated contests. Nicky Henderson and Dan Skelton have provided detailed verdicts on the impending clash between their respective charges, Sir Gino and The New Lion, in Saturday's International Hurdle at Cheltenham.
A Pivotal Prelude to the Champion Hurdle
This weekend's Cheltenham Festival Trials Day features a race that carries significant implications for the sport's premier hurdling event in March. The Unibet International Hurdle, run over a distance of two miles and one furlong, will see the current first and second favourites for the Champion Hurdle go head-to-head for the very first time. The four-runner contest, which boasts a substantial prize fund of £125,000, also includes the notable contenders Nemean Lion and Brentford Hope.
Sir Gino: The Unbeaten Favourite
Sir Gino arrives at Cheltenham with an impeccable record, having never been defeated on the racecourse. The decision to postpone a potential chasing career in favour of a return to hurdles has been vindicated by his recent performances. Most notably, he delivered a commanding six-length victory over the reigning champion, Golden Ace, at Kempton over the Christmas period.
Trainer Nicky Henderson, speaking through his sponsored blog with Unibet, expressed confidence in his star hurdler. "Everything has gone well since Kempton and there isn't much more that I can add that hasn't already been said," Henderson remarked. "He's a very uncomplicated character with a great turn of foot so it doesn't matter if we have to sit out the back or make our own running. The New Lion is obviously a very good horse but we've never shied away from the fact that we all love Gino and hopefully this will set us up nicely for a crack at the Unibet Champion Hurdle in March."
The New Lion: Aiming for Redemption
For The New Lion, this race represents a crucial opportunity to bounce back from a recent setback. The horse, who triumphed in last year's Turners' Novices' Hurdle, saw his previously perfect record marred by a fall in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. That incident marked the first blemish on an otherwise flawless career.
Dan Skelton, serving as an ambassador for Ladbrokes, outlined his preparation and optimism for the challenge ahead. "We take on Sir Gino which is going to be a tough gig. Sir Gino does give us a small 3lb penalty though," Skelton noted. "We have prepared him for this day. It was frustrating when he fell up at Newcastle in the Fighting Fifth. We didn't need that, but he has done loads of jumping at home since and we've been happy with that. We were very happy with the pace he showed at Newcastle that day, we never thought he was a slow horse, and this will now tell us a lot more. We go into this race full of optimism and I am really looking forward to it."
The Broader Context of the Season
This high-stakes encounter occurs against a backdrop of uncertainty within the hurdling division, particularly concerning the future plans for the superstar Constitution Hill. The decision to keep Sir Gino over hurdles, rather than transitioning him to fences, underscores the importance trainers are placing on this season's championship races. Saturday's result will not only award significant prize money but will also provide critical form lines and psychological advantages heading into the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The anticipation surrounding this match-up is palpable, with both camps expressing respect for their opponent while maintaining a quiet confidence in their own horse's abilities. For racing enthusiasts, it offers a compelling narrative of an unbeaten favourite facing a talented rival seeking redemption, all played out on the iconic stage of Prestbury Park.
