Cheltenham Festival 2026 news: Harry Skelton names his favourite “banker of the week”

Jockey Harry Skelton has named The New Lion as his banker for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, with the meeting now just eight days away. 

In a YouTube video titled ‘A morning with Harry Skelton: His Festival team’, filmed by content creator and racing Syndicate owner Basher Watts, Skelton made his feelings clear on the chances of The New Lion. 

Skelton said: “I really believe he is the one, that out of the whole week would be my banker.”

The New Lion trades as the 9/4 favourite for the Unibet Champion Hurdle, in which he will look to carry the colours of owner JP McManus to victory for the first time since 2020. 

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Bounced back

Last year’s Turners’ winner will arrive at the Festival having won six of his seven starts, with a fall at Newcastle the only blemish in an otherwise perfect record. 

He has since bounced back to winning ways with a victory in a Unibet Hurdle marred by the injury to then Champion Hurdle favourite Sir Gino. 

On his prospects, Skelton said: “Obviously, the start of the season isn’t what we wanted when he came down in the Fighting Fifth, but that’s well behind him now. 

“He put in a good, clear round the last day, in the International (Unibet Hurdle), in a very slowly run and tactical race.

“I see a lot of people say maybe he’s not quick enough and he wasn’t that impressive that day, but when you go really slow, all the horses are going to sprint.

“It’s hard to win by a big margin, you know. But, um, he showed plenty of speed that day. It was, you know, very important. 

“He got a clear round in and he jumped nicely.” 

Fan-favourite mare

The Champion Hurdle line-up has changed a lot since the turn of the year, with Sir Gino withdrawn and the news that Constitution Hill won’t make a return to National Hunt racing. 

It remains to be seen whether Willie Mullins will declare fan-favourite mare Lossiemouth in this race or send her to win her third consecutive Mares’ Hurdle. 

Nevertheless, Skekton sounds bullish on The New Lion’s chances, he said: “I think he’s got a big chance.

“Whether Lossiemouth turns up or not, who knows? 

“But, yeah, I really believe he is the one, that out of the whole week would be my banker. 

“That’s a strong statement in a Champion Hurdle but, yeah, I think he is that good and will take a bit of beating”

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