Dan Skelton is relishing a potential Cheltenham Festival Trials day showdown against Sir Gino with The New Lion after keenly observing the best of the action over the festive period. Skelton said: "The New Lion jumped on New Year's Day and jumped beautiful. "It sounds like we might clash with Sir Gino on Trials day and we'd look forward to that." Sir Gino looked very good (in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on St Stephen's Day) and very speedy, so I would say he's going to be very hard to beat." Meanwhile, Kabral Du Mathan looks set to swerve a Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle run, with Skelton favouring Fontwell and Aintree options this term.

Source: Irish Examiner January 04, 2026 15:49 UTC