Dan Skelton is on course for a first trainers' title
The New Lion bounces back into Champion Hurdle picture
Spillane's Tower displays Gold Cup credentials
Skelton turning on the style
Dan Skelton was edged out of the trainers' title race by the brilliance of Willie Mullins last season, and now surely only the Irishman can prevent the Warwickshire-based handler going one better.
Skelton is rapidly closing in on the £3m barrier in prize-money and has suggested a target of £4m would make life hugely tough for Mullins, even allowing for the firepower the Closutton chief possesses.
It was not all good for Skelton on Saturday, with Grey Dawning beaten in the Cotswolds Chase, but there was enough reason for cheer with two wins on the card.
The latest Cheltenham Festival odds are available on LiveScore Bet
The New Lion triumphs as Sir Gino suffers injury
The big hurdles race on the card saw The New Lion rebound from a fall in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle before Christmas to score for Skelton and his brother Harry.
He was delivered late to bypass Nemean Lion and Brentford Hope up the Cheltenham hill in a race that lost plenty of its lustre when favourite Sir Gino was pulled up by Nico de Boinville. The Nicky Henderson-trained star, hitherto unbeaten, suffered a pelvic injury that ends his season but the Seven Barrows chief hopes he will race again.
The New Lion took care of his own business and is now 3/1 with LiveScore Bet to win the Champion Hurdle in March.
The latest Cheltenham Festival odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Spillane's Tower delivers redemptive win
The Cotswolds Chase was supposed to be Grey Dawning's moment to advertise himself as the main British-trained contender for the Gold Cup but Skelton's grey could only finish third of four as Spillane's Tower kept on strongly up the hill to steal away this crown from last year's winner L'Homme Presse.
The JP McManus-owned winner had gone off favourite for the 2024 King George at Kempton but arrived at Cheltenham winless in five runs, two of those over hurdles this season, and was lacking a spark.
However, he duly delivered under Jack Kennedy for trainer Jimmy Mangan, the veteran with just 10 horses under his care now.
Mangan is dreaming of the Gold Cup back at Cheltenham in March, with Spillane's Tower now quoted at 20/1 with LiveScore Bet for that race.
The latest Cheltenham Festival odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Ma Shantou enters Stayers' Hurdle debate
Emma Lavelle won the Stayers' Hurdle in 2018 with Paisley Park and she has another contender on her hands now after Ma Shantou caused an upset in the Cleeve Hurdle.
The improving seven-year-old joined favourite Impose Toi to come and challenge front-runner Gowel Road early in the home straight and Henderson's charge had no answer as Ma Shantou eased himself six-lengths clear after jumping the last on terms.
He's won 3-3 over the trip at Cheltenham this season and has seemingly earned a crack at the Stayers' Hurdle on March 12, a contest he is now into 6/1 with LiveScore Bet to win.
The latest Cheltenham Festival odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Elliott's Cross Country contender emerges
Gordon Elliott has won the Cross Country race at the Cheltenham Festival six times in the last eight runnings — though Tiger Roll was officially running under Denise Foster's name in 2021.
The Cullentra handler and Gigginstown House Stud have enjoyed stellar success in the race and Favori De Champdou now looks a major contender after beating off the likes of J'Arrive De L'Est and Final Orders to win by more than eight-lengths on Saturday in the hands of Jack Kennedy — with Elliott revealing post-race his stable jockey was very keen on this horse.
Favori De Champdou will go up in the ratings for March and is now priced at 6/1 with LiveScore Bet for more Cross Country success at The Festival.
The latest Cheltenham Festival odds are available on LiveScore Bet
