Time is right for Lion to roar at Cheltenham

If The New Lion has any pretensions of winning the Champion Hurdle in March he surely has to win the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Before any of the smart hurdlers had been seen this season, Dan Skelton's pride and joy was favourite for the Champion based on an unbeaten novice hurdle season that included a victory over Final Demand, who many have anointed as the second coming.

Skelton showed he would never shirk a challenge with him when taking on Constitution Hill and last year's champion Golden Ace in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle.

Despite Constitution Hill falling, The New Lion failed to take advantage as just as the race was warming up he fell himself two out. Given Golden Ace only beat Nemean Lion and Anzadam in a blanket finish it would have been disappointing had he not proved good enough to win that.

There is no Constitution Hill this time but there is his stablemate Sir Gino, who easily accounted for Golden Ace at Kempton. However, that was his first run for a year and if you are a believer in the dreaded 'bounce' theory then you would not want to be steaming into him at a very short price. As a result, and in receipt of 3lb, The New Lion has to be the bet on this occasion at the prices.

It is a big day for Skelton, with his Gold Cup hope Grey Dawning back in action in the Betfair Cotswold Chase.

While his three rivals are all, or at least have been, good horses in their own right, L'Homme Presse is being campaigned with the Grand National in mind, Spillane's Tower is on a retrieval mission and Flooring Porter is having his first run for 486 days.

Grey Dawning oozed class in winning the Betfair Chase and while he might not be one to rely on over 5200m in the Gold Cup, in a small field like this he should last home.

It is 26 years since Nicky Henderson last won the Stayers' Hurdle with Bacchanal and he must be feeling Impose Toi gives him his best chance since. He runs in the Pertemps Network Cleeve Hurdle and has recently emerged as the best in the division in the UK.

Second in the Coral Cup last season, he was also placed at Aintree and Punchestown but he has continued to improve this season.

He won a handicap first time out before beating Strong Leader at Newbury when getting 6lb. That meant he still had something to prove in the Long Walk Hurdle, but he beat the same rival even easier at Ascot off level weights and while he faces him again, Strong Leader has never been at his best at Cheltenham.

On a star-studded card Jagwar, a winner on the same day 12 months ago, can atone for a slightly unlucky run in the December Gold Cup.

Keen early, he was then short of room at a key time before staying on up the hill. He will be better for that outing.

So far nothing has been able to get Tenter Le Tout off the bridle over hurdles and she looks a big price in the JCB Triumph Trial for Chester Williams. Kylcot, seven lengths behind her at Chepstow, won with ease at Wetherby on Thursday.

If reports are to be believed that there really is very little between Old Park Star and Act Of Innocence at home then the latter should win the AIS Novices' Hurdle.

In the same ownership, until Old Park Star dotted up last week it was still up for grabs which of them was the Supreme horse.

There is also a cracking fixture at Doncaster where Country Code can remain unbeaten over timber in the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places River Don Novices' Hurdle.

Placed in two points, Ruth Jefferson's six-year-old looked the real deal in winning what looked a decent race at Kelso last time out and this race was immediately nominated.

Paul Nolan is a much rarer visitor to the UK these days than he used to be, so when he sends one it is worth looking at.

His Feet Of A Dancer gave Wodhooh a race at Christmas and she looks well up to Grade Two level in the Virgin Bet A Good Bet Yorkshire Rose Mares' Hurdle.

Walking On Air, trained by the upwardly mobile Faye Bramley, looked like winning the Virgin Bet Great Yorkshire Chase last year but fell at the last. He is 2lb higher now but having had just one run this term, it looks like this race has been the plan for some time. - Press Association

SELECTIONS:

CHELTENHAM: Race 1 - 14.05 Push The Button, Race 2 - 14.40 Tenter Le Tout, Race 3 - 15.15 JAGWAR (NAP), Race 4 - 15.50 Tommie Beau, Race 5 - 16.25 Grey Dawning, Race 6 - 17.00 The New Lion, Race 7 - 17.35 Impose Toi, Race 8 - 18.10 Act Of Innocence.

DONCASTER: Race 1 - 14.20 Highland Crystal, Race 2 - 14.55 Country Code, Race 3 - 15.30 Feet Of A Dancer, Race 4 - 16.05 Walking On Air, Race 5 - 16.38 Noble Park, Race 6 - 17.13 Mighty Bandit, Race 7 - 17.48 Dukeboxrock.

FAIRYHOUSE: Race 1 - 14.28 Cappucino, Race 2 - 15.03 Bigbraveboy, Race 3 - 15.38 Oldschool Outlaw, Race 4 - 16.10 Shuttle Diplomacy, Race 5 - 16.43 Sound As A Bell, Race 6 - 17.18 Our Uncle Jack, Race 7 - 17.53 Green Hint.

LINGFIELD: Race 1 - 13.58 Crafter, Race 2 - 14.33 Somebody, Race 3 - 15.08 Far Too Fizzy, Race 4 - 15.43 Fiorella Princess, Race 5 - 16.14 Jack Langley, Race 6 - 16.48 Jackson Street, Race 7 - 17.26 Secret Road, Race 8 - 18.00 Twirler.

NEWCASTLE: Race 1 - 18.05 Noss Mayo, Race 2 - 18.35 Korroor, Race 3 - 19.05 Million Gold, Race 4 - 19.35 Carbine Harvester, Race 5 - 20.05 True Promise, Race 6 - 20.35 Isla Bella, Race 7 - 21.05 Relevant Range.

UTTOXETER: Race 1 - 14.47 El Jefe, Race 2 - 15.22 Up To Trix, Race 3 - 15.57 Sunnyvilla, Race 4 - 16.32 My Noble Lord, Race 5 - 17.06 In The Age, Race 6 - 17.41 Paper Mill, Race 7 - 18.18 Richardson.