Bold statement: The fall at Newcastle is not a failure; it’s a learning moment that could redefine The New Lion’s season. Dan Skelton hopes his six-year-old will take the lesson from the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle and surge forward smarter next time.
The New Lion came crashing down at the second-last hurdle while leading, the same barrier where Constitution Hill stumbled on the first circuit at Gosforth Park. Fortunately, the horse walked away unharmed, and the focus now is on returning him to action, though no definite target has been set yet.
In a discussion with Racing TV at Haydock on Wednesday, Skelton explained: there was no need for treatment, with physios present on Sunday just in case, but the horse is fine. He indicated that while the fall itself could be seen as a lucky escape, the bigger issue is The New Lion’s tendency to be over-brave at his jumps.
He noted two moments at Cheltenham where the horse appeared flat and overconfident—two out looked very low, and the last at Cheltenham was almost missed. He referenced State Man’s near-miss that week as a warning sign, and acknowledged that Newcastle was their turn to fall short.
The trainer described The New Lion as intelligent and a thinker who will go home and learn from this experience. Skelton emphasized the horse’s bravery and expressed confidence that he will approach hurdles with the same intensity but with heightened sharpness on his feet. He stressed that the likely cause was speed rather than indecision, noting that the fences are there to be jumped.
Congratulating Golden Ace and trainer Jeremy Scott, Skelton praised the winner and acknowledged that luck should not be overemphasized; the job is well deserved.
Skelton concluded that while there is no need for a full reset, the key objective is simply to get the performance right. Most importantly, he was reassured by The New Lion’s ability to handle two miles, a distance that, to him and those closest to the horse, he is clearly comfortable with.
If there’s a takeaway, it’s this: the race didn’t expose a flaw so much as reveal how speed can challenge even a brave jumper. With a plan to sharpen the horse’s readiness, the path forward remains hopeful and constructive for The New Lion’s next challenge.
