Both Constitution Hill and The New Lion fell in a dramatic Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday and the fallout from it has seen a massive shake-up in the 2026 Champion Hurdle market!
Given the drama at Newcastle, it is no surprise to see Lossiemouth as the clear market leader now. The eight-time Grade 1 winner and last season’s Mares’ Hurdle winner will surely be aimed at this race now despite connection’s prior reluctance to run her in the race last season.
However, a lot is going to happen between now and March, so what horse is the value play at this point in time?
I for one feel that The New Lion is the play at 9/2 with bet365. The race tactics didn’t go to plan for him in the Fighting Fifth, as when Constitution Hill fell in front of him, he was left in front on his own, which probably wasn’t where Harry Skelton wanted to be.
As a consequence, he started wandering around and almost ran off the track at the fourth hurdle, and he was still travelling well when he fell at the second last flight.
There’s no doubt that he is a stayer, proven when beating The Yellow Clay in a thrilling Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival last season, but stayers win Champion Hurdles and he has already showed that he does also possess a turn of foot!
I will be surprised if The New Lion is anywhere near 9/2 on the day if everything goes to plan for him between now and the big day.
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