“She was a very good winner though and it’s yet another brilliant ride from Kennedy”.
Agree GM. I thought Kennedy was outstanding on her. Made a decisive move early and his bold, positive tactics paid off.
It was an indifferent ride from Skelton but as I have commented before, don’t we have to recognise that The New Lion is not that good? He is becoming one of those horses people always find an excuse for – the sort of horse the bookmakers love.
What do they do with him now? He isn’t good or fast enough to win a Champion Hurdle. He couldn’t win a Grade 1 over 2m 4f yesterday. And the evidence suggests that he is not good enough to give 7lbs and a beating to a top class mare.
Do they go chasing with him? If so, what would be his target? I doubt he is quick enough to win an Arkle but can he grind it out in a Brown Advisory? I suppose he did win the Challow, so maybe he is just a stayer and they should go down the Stayers Hurdle route. It looks like a weak division at the moment.
Also, who rides him next season? Will Cobden take over? By rights he should do but I can’t see the Skeltons being very pleased.