The New Lion proved himself an exceptional novice hurdling prospect with a facile success in the Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury.
Trained by Dan Skelton, the unbeaten five-year-old was a course winner on his previous start, building on his earlier win over timber at Chepstow.
Sent off at 9-4, Harry Skelton was content to watch on from midfield as outsider Electric Mason led them, along with the strong-travelling Bill Joyce who was always in his slipstream.
Harry Cobden on Paul Nicholls’ 5-4 favourite Regent’s Stroll was a little further back and both the Ditcheat contender and The New Lion edged closer into contention as the runners moved into the straight.
However, it was the Skelton charge that the eye was drawn to as The New Lion moved up menacingly to tackle Electric Mason and Bill Joyce at the last and the exceptional youngster barely broke sweat as he cantered home under a motionless pilot.
Jamie Snowden’s Wendigo kept on past beaten horses for second, with Regent’s Stroll unable to enhance his trainer’s fine record in the race coming home in fourth.
The New Lion is set to remain over an intermediate trip for a Cheltenham Festival bid in the spring, with Paddy Power making him a 4-1 chance from 12s for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park in March.
Henry’s Friend another winner for Pauling and Jones
Ben Pauling and Ben Jones’ superb festive period showed no signs of stopping with Henry’s Friend running out a decisive winner of the Coral Mandarin Handicap Chase at Newbury.
The trainer and jockey combination tasted Grade One glory with The Jukebox Man at Kempton on Boxing Day and look to have another smart operator on their hands as Henry’s Friend struck on Newbury’s Christmas card for the second year running.
Last seen finishing fifth here in the Coral Gold Cup, he was sent off at 7-2 and breezed into contention as the runners headed into the home straight for the final time.
Henry’s Friend strikes at Newbury
The seven-year-old was soon putting pressure on long-time leader Brave Kingdom and once going past Paul Nicholls’ charge two out, he was simply kept up to his work to finish six lengths clear of Harry Fry’s runner-up Hymac.
Pauling said: “It was a very good performance and I’m delighted to see it, as to be honest I thought we had a right chance in the Coral Gold Cup and he made a terrible mistake halfway down the back which put paid to his chances.
“This just shows we were right to believe he is well handicapped and a nice horse for the future, it’s a race that is a nice pot to win and I’m delighted for the troops who own him. It has put us in a great place going forward.
“I think the Ultima (at Cheltenham) is an obvious target to me. He has tactical speed and is able to hold a position very well and that is probably the right race to target. I imagine we will look after him between now and then.
“Depending on what mark he gets he could get a Grand National entry. If he has a mark that would see him get in, I think he is the right type. But whether it would be a year too early, I’m not too sure.”