The New Lion roars to victory in Challow Hurdle

One of the highlights of the Jumps Season at Newbury Racecourse is the Challow Hurdle, and this year’s running saw more interest than ever.

10,000 racing fans flocked to Newbury on Saturday, 48% up on 2023.

The race made a new star too, as it often does, with Dan Skelton’s The New Lion roaring to victory in the Grade 1 hurdle.

The winner flew past punters on the bridle into the final stretch, pulling out a four and three-quarter length lead to take the win.

The display backed up his 9/4 odds, with Jamie Snowden’s 25/1 Wendigo coming home in second following a perfectly timed late surge.

Skelton was beaming with pride in the winner’s enclosure post-race.

“I hoped he’d do something like that, just an amazing performance,” he said.

“Harry was great on him, he was great the whole way round with his jumps.

“He’s just such a trainable, easy horse.

“It’s the honest human nature of the horse that makes it more enjoyable.

“There’s no comparisons to be made as far as I’m concerned, he’ll be as good as he can be.”

“We always hoped he could come and show people that,” said winning jockey Harry Skelton.

“He’s really come on… he’s got to keep progressing now.

“What makes him very good is his mind.

“He’d walk round [the paddock] loose, he’s that good a temperament.

“That’s what sets him apart.

“He’s getting the hang of hurdling really well, he jumped really slickly there.”

The horse is now expected to be put forward for the The Turners Novices' Chase, the first race on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Ben Jones rode Henry’s Friend to victory in the Coral Mandarin Handicap Chase.

Trainer Ben Pauling was pleased with the convincing five length victory.

“Today he’s jumped well on the whole,” he said.

“He was off the bridle, but he just stays all day.

“He’s got a good heart and he tries, so I was pretty confident from three out that he’d just keep galloping.

“It was nice to see him pull away as well, he usually does save a bit.

“He loves it here, he’s won three races [at Newbury].”