4.00 2m. 87yds. 9 Declared. Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1 ) of £465,750.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €262,078.00 2nd - €98,739.00 3rd - €49,416.00 4th - €24,685.00 5th - €12,389.00 6th - €6,194.00 7th - €3,074.00 8th - €1,584.00
Formscan - It's hard to ignore the claims of last year's Turners winner THE NEW LION, who has been targeted at this ever since. He was still in command when falling at the second-last in the Fighting Fifth, with 2025 Champion Hurdle heroine Golden Ace once again the beneficiary of the contest falling apart. That was The New Lion's sole defeat in an otherwise impressive career and after he got back on track with a workmanlike display in the International here, there is a suspicion that untapped potential could be unlocked in Dan Skelton's charge. Brighterdaysahead turned the tables on her Christmas conqueror Lossiemouth in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown but the application of first-time cheekpieces, along with the return to better ground, may work in the favour of Willie Mullins' mare. Those two are the obvious dangers, although Greatwood/Kingwell victor Alexei is working his way through the ranks and is well worth his place at this level.