Ante-post movers for the Cheltenham Festival after the weekend action

Cheltenham held a hugely eventful Festival Trials Day card on Saturday, the final meeting in the Cotswolds before the main event in six weeks’ time.

Champion Hurdle favourite Sir Gino suffered a season-ending injury in the Unibet Hurdle on a day that was packed with incident at Cheltenham.

We've picked out some ante-post market movers for The Festival in March following the latest weekend action.

The New Lion - Champion Hurdle @ 3/1 with William Hill, BetMGM

Maestro Conti - Triumph Hurdle @ 8/1 with bet365, William Hill

Love Sign D'anou - Champion Bumper @ 7/1 with Paddy Power, William Hill

He's a relentless galloper, a big strong horse, I'd imagine he's a Cheltenham horse and he could be along the lines of Florida Pearl.

Patrick Mullins

The New Lion rebounds for Team Skelton

The New Lion powered up the Cheltenham hill to get the better of Nemean Lion and Brentford Hope in a sprint finish to the Unibet Hurdle but pretty much all thoughts had turned to Sir Gino by then.

The hitherto unbeaten Nicky Henderson-trained star was quickly pulled up mid-race by Nico de Boinville and a suspected pelvic injury has been diagnosed. His season is over, though his trainer remains hopeful he may race again.

Although The New Lion was campaigned over two and a half miles as a novice, the Champion Hurdle has always been the aim this season. He took a fall in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle on his comeback, shedding his own unbeaten record, but is now back on track and headed for the two-mile Championship back here on March 10.

"We needed to get a clear round after Newcastle," said Dan Skelton. "Harry has done exactly what he wanted to do and held him into the bottom of his hurdles. He was much more respectful of them." Lossiemouth who heads for the DRF on Sunday and the Irish Champion Hurdle, remains as favourite for the Champion Hurdle but The New Lion now appears the biggest challenger on paper.

Maestro confirms Triumph promise for Skelton

Maestro confirms Triumph promise for Skelton

It was a good day for Team Skelton at Cheltenham on Saturday, with Maestro Conti getting them up and running in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle.

He was well backed before the off and was given a patient ride by Harry Skelton. They still had three lengths to find jumping the last, but came strongly against the running rail to take the measure of One Horse Town and Minella Yoga.

The French import is now 3-3 under Rules and his trainer says he has booked his Festival ticket.

"He did the right thing for a Triumph, he stayed," said the winning trainer. "I am glad there is enough time between now and the Triumph, he will be back here for that."

Love is in the air at Naas

The Champion Bumper picture should start to crystalize in the coming days, with two key races at the Dublin Racing Festival this coming weekend.

It will take something out of the ordinary to match what Love Sign D'anou achieved at Naas on Sunday for Willie and Patrick Mullins in the silks of Rich Ricci.

He had beaten a subsequent maiden hurdle winner in a point last spring and he cantered around Naas before coming clear for a 24-length success on his Rules now.

Jasmin De Vaux was similarly impressive in the same race two years ago before going on to win the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. As big as 20/1 before his Naas win, Love Sign D'anou is now 7/1 across the board.

"He's a relentless galloper, a big strong horse and he's another nice one for Rich (Ricci, owner)," said Patrick Mullins.

"I'd imagine he's a Cheltenham horse and he could be along the lines of Florida Pearl and those Cheltenham-type bumper horses."