Sir Gino and The New Lion take centre-stage in a heavyweight clash on Cheltenham Festival Trials Day.
Saturday’s action-packed card at Prestbury Park will see eight heroes storm up the infamous hill to victory – as Festival preperations heat up.
Racegoers are treated to a stellar feast of five, Grade Two races including the Triumph Trial, Cotswold Chase, Cleeve Hurdle, International Hurdle and Classic Hurdle.
A Premier Handicap, Novice’ Handicap Chase and the beloved Cross Country completes the day’s action, on January 24.
sir gino v the new lion
If there’s one way to get the tastebuds tingling ahead of March’s showpiece, it’s Sir Gino v The New Lion in the two-mile-one-furlong International Hurdle.
Sporting the famous Donnelly yellow and black check silks, Sir Gino is unbeaten in seven starts under rules.
The Nicky Henderson-trained six-year-old didn’t make it past December last season, picking up a serious injury which kept him out for a year.
On his return at Kempton, on Boxing Day, it was business as usual as he stormed to a mightily impressive victory in The Christmas Hurdle.
Described by Henderson as a Ferrari, he’s a superstar in the making and justifies favouritism in this small field.
Dan Skelton and JP McManus will be looking to make a statement, with their very own star, The New Lion.
Prior to his Fighting Fifth tumble, the seven-year-old stayed on strongly to take The Turners Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival.
Bar one mishap in November, he was unbeaten in five and is a more than worthy opponent.
Nemean Lion – who finished third in The Fighting Fifth, and Brentford Hope – pulled up at The Festival, make up the field of four.
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