{"id":41900,"date":"2025-03-22T23:17:23","date_gmt":"2025-03-22T23:17:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/?p=41900"},"modified":"2025-03-22T23:17:23","modified_gmt":"2025-03-22T23:17:23","slug":"the-new-lions-campaign-is-over-will-start-in-the-fighting-fifth-hurdle-next-season-says-dan-skelton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sportscasting.com\/uk\/news\/the-new-lions-campaign-is-over-will-start-in-the-fighting-fifth-hurdle-next-season-says-dan-skelton\/","title":{"rendered":"The New Lion’s campaign is over, will start in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle next season says Dan Skelton"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cheltenham Festival hero The New Lion won’t run again this season and will reappear in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trainer Dan Skelton confirmed The New Lion will work backwards from the Champion Hurdle next season, for which he is a 6\/1 shot with the best horse racing betting sites<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Despite running over trips between 2m 3\u00bdf and 2m 5f throughout his novice hurdling campaign, the dual Grade 1 winner is set to drop back to the two-mile division when he tackles open company in the autumn.<\/p>\n

The classy six-year-old is renowned as a strong traveller with a high cruising speed while also packing a killer turn of foot so the decision makes sense.<\/p>\n

Now rated 159, that figure puts The New Lion inside the top ten hurdlers in racing and the undefeated son of former European Champion Stayer Kayf Tara is undoubtedly an exciting talent.<\/p>\n

After winning the Challow Novices’ Hurdle on the bridle at Newbury over Christmas, leading owner JP McManus<\/a> quickly swooped in to acquire his services for a rumoured \u00a31 million.<\/p>\n

Skelton said: \u201cThe Fighting Fifth at Newcastle could be his starting point next season. We\u2019ll try and go down that two-mile route for as long as we can.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

WATCH: The New Lion wins the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham<\/h2>\n