January 24 / 15.00 Cheltenham

15.00

Soft

Unibet Hurdle (Registered As The International Hurdle) (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £71187.5
  • 2m 0f 179y
  • Class 1
  • 4 runners
ITV
View Course
Unibet Hurdle (Registered As The International Hurdle) (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sunny

OUR TIP

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25

Form: 1111-F C

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 159

Form & Verdict
Has raced only on soft/good to soft; one of two notable fallers in the Fighting Fifth in sole start this term, holding a 1l lead and still not under maximum pressure when coming down two out; unbeaten (5-5) previously and was impressive in the Challow prior to following up at the Cheltenham Festival last season for a Grade 1 novice double (2m4f/2m5f); remains a very promising hurdler and still one with serious Champion Hurdle claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

The New Lion

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Broadly progressive; has gone down the Champion Hurdle route this season and ran well in that race most recently, while leaving the impression he's ready for a return to further than 2m; leading novice hurdler at about 2m4f last term, winning the Challow and the Turners (both on good to soft ground); still unbeaten over this sort of distance and commands respect.

15/8

3rd

4

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

The New Lion

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Bids to emulate Istabraq, Hardy Eustace and Faugheen by winning the Champion Hurdle a year after landing the 2m5f Grade 1 novice hurdle at this meeting; held a 1l lead, still not under maximum pressure, when falling two out in the Fighting Fifth on reappearance; unbeaten otherwise and is better than the bare form he showed in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham (2m1f, soft) last time when the steady pace wasn't conducive to an ideal test; still has plenty of potential in open company and commands respect, especially with a stronger gallop seemingly on the cards.

11/4

1st

3

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

15:00 Cheltenham

The New Lion

11st 7lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Has raced only on soft/good to soft; one of two notable fallers in the Fighting Fifth in sole start this term, holding a 1l lead and still not under maximum pressure when coming down two out; unbeaten (5-5) previously and was impressive in the Challow prior to following up at the Cheltenham Festival last season for a Grade 1 novice double (2m4f/2m5f); remains a very promising hurdler and still one with serious Champion Hurdle claims.

15/8

Form: 11P-34 D BF

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 151

Form & Verdict
Seemed to run well in a dramatic Fighting Fifth but was only fourth of five, admittedly not entirely disgraced, last week when favourite for a Windsor contest he'd won 12 months earlier; triple Grade 2 scorer but faces a difficult task against two exciting types in this field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

15:00 Cheltenham

Nemean Lion

11st 10lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Seemed to run well in a dramatic Fighting Fifth but was only fourth of five, admittedly not entirely disgraced, last week when favourite for a Windsor contest he'd won 12 months earlier; triple Grade 2 scorer but faces a difficult task against two exciting types in this field.

33/1

4th

1

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Nemean Lion

11st 8lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Middle leg of a hat-trick when winning this last year (soft); finished close-up when last of the three finishers on reappearance in Grade 1 Fighting Fifth at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) in November, which was a positive performance; leading claims despite a 8lb penalty.

7/4

12

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Nemean Lion

11st 10lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Completed a hat-trick (2m3f/2m4f, good to soft/soft) when getting up close home in Grade 2 National Spirit at Fontwell last month; goes up in trip and back up in grade today, with something to find, but he stayed well on the Flat early in his career and has shaped this season as though today's extra distance could prompt further improvement; clearly thriving; interesting.

25/1

Form: 844631 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Took advantage of a handy mark in Haydock handicap last Saturday, bringing record over hurdles to 6-20; has the worst chance at the weights back up in class and seems unlikely to match his second-place finish, which was a realistic outcome at the time, in this race last year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

14:10 Newbury

Brentford Hope

11st 12lb

J: Megan Fox

T: Harry Derham

Won by a neck at Haydock (2m, good to soft) last month under Megan Fox and is 4lb higher today; performed as well as could be expected in the face of a stiff task when third of four in Grade 2 at Cheltenham a week later and has each-way claims on this return to handicap company.

3/1

3rd

4

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

15:00 Cheltenham

Brentford Hope

11st 4lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Took advantage of a handy mark in Haydock handicap last Saturday, bringing record over hurdles to 6-20; has the worst chance at the weights back up in class and seems unlikely to match his second-place finish, which was a realistic outcome at the time, in this race last year.

66/1

Form: 1/11-1 CD

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 163

Form & Verdict
Appears to handle any ground; impressive on chase debut prior to picking up a serious injury; returned from 12-month absence to readily justify favouritism and clock a very fast time in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day for a third Grade 1 success, proving that he's recovered well from the setback and confirming that he's a hugely exciting jumps horse who is still a potential champion in the making; rising star who remains unbeaten (7-7).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

15:00 Cheltenham

Sir Gino

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Appears to handle any ground; impressive on chase debut prior to picking up a serious injury; returned from 12-month absence to readily justify favouritism and clock a very fast time in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day for a third Grade 1 success, proving that he's recovered well from the setback and confirming that he's a hugely exciting jumps horse who is still a potential champion in the making; rising star who remains unbeaten (7-7).

2/5

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.10
Straight Forecast £22.31
Trifecta £40.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Sir Gino

The Guardian:

The New Lion

Daily Mail:

The New Lion

The Star:

The New Lion

RP RATINGS:

Sir Gino

TOPSPEED:

Sir Gino

POSTDATA:

Sir Gino

LAMBOURN:

Sir Gino

The Times:

Sir Gino

Telegraph:

Sir Gino

D Express:

Sir Gino

Daily Mirror:

Sir Gino

The Sun:

Sir Gino

Daily Record:

Sir Gino