Sir Gino And The Brand-new Lion Set For Cheltenham Clash

Sir Gino and The New Lion are because of cross paths at Cheltenham on Saturday as both hold entries for the Unibet Hurdle.


Nicky Henderson's Sir Gino was last seen winning the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day, a six-length victory ahead of Jeremy Scott's star mare Golden Ace.


The New Lion, trained by Dan Skelton, shone at the Cheltenham Festival last year when winning the Turners' Novices Hurdle however fell at the penultimate flight when starting his campaign in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle in late November.


Those 2 horses are most likely to head the marketplace, with the final field set to be small as Kerry Lee's Nemean Lion, the Harry Derham-trained Brentford Hope and Willie Mullins' Poniros are the other entrants.


The latter horse is a dual-purpose campaigner who famously won last season's Triumph Hurdle on his launching over challenges and though he is due to to return to the National Hunt code before the summer, his first getaway may be either at Cheltenham or Leopardstown on February 1.


"Poniros is in a Cheltenham at the weekend, he's due to operate at the Curragh on Tuesday," said Sean Graham, racing manager to Poniros' owner Tony Bloom.


The New Lion (left) and Sir Gino, who are because of cross courses in the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday (PA)


"After that Willie and David (Casey, assistant trainer) will make their minds up regarding whether we're going to go.


"Sir Gino will remain in it and so will JP's horse (The New Lion). There are two methods of taking a look at it, we can go to Cheltenham and perform at a track he has won around before and there may just be four or 5 runners - or his other option is the Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.


"That will most likely be simply as difficult a race, if not more difficult, and there'll likely be more runners at Leopardstown also.


"I believe if he works well enough, we'll probably be going to Cheltenham."