Nemean Lion heading for Champion Hurdle assignment

Molly Hunter
February 27, 2024 1:38 pm

Kingwell winner to take his chance in Festival feature on opening day.

Kerry Lee is prepared to roll the dice and allow Nemean Lion to take his chance in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The seven-year-old has had a successful campaign so far, which began in October when he won the Welsh Champion Hurdle by a length and a half on debut.

He was fifth in the Greatwood at Cheltenham next time out and then ran an admirable race under a considerable amount of weight to finish the runner-up when stepping up in trip in the Lanzarote.

The Golden Horn gelding then tried Grade Two level to contest the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton, a scaling back in trip as the race is run over a mile and seven furlongs.

There he was the 6-5 favourite under Richard Patrick and justified those odds when securing a length and a half success over fellow Champion Hurdle entrant Colonel Mustard.

NEMEAN LION 🦁 What a horse 🎉 pic.twitter.com/xACLX3Ljon

— Wincanton Racecourse (@wincantonraces) February 21, 2024

The success has seen his mark rise from 145 to 151, and he is set to take his spot in a Champion Hurdle that this year might prove just more open than initially presumed.

“He’s been really good since Wincanton, he came out of the race very well,” said Lee, speaking before the market for the race was disrupted by the news that reigning hero Constitution Hill was a doubt after a below-par racecourse gallop on Tuesday morning.

“He loved the conditions and ran a great race, it was lovely to watch and we were really pleased with him.

“He wasn’t stopping at the end of the Lanzarote but he relished the two miles too, you’d have to say he was even better over the two.

“It’s all systems go for the Cheltenham Festival now, his target is going to be the Champion Hurdle.

After taming his Kingwell rivals yesterday the Lion is back & is enjoying some down-time in his usual & altogether more familiar Herefordshire jungle 🦁🦁🦁 #NemeanLion #winner #restandrelaxation #KingwellHurdle #Herefordshire #happyhorses #sundayvibes pic.twitter.com/vSnmpOsIEN
— 𝐊𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐞 (@beaubai) February 18, 2024

“There are very few options for him and as long as the ground is good to soft or softer, he will run.

“It looks to be wide open for third and realistically in racing, anything can happen.

“I think off 151 he deserves the chance to prove himself so we can see what he can do.

“It is a pleasure to have such a good horse, we’ll keep our fingers crossed that he can go and run a good race but as long as he comes back safe and well then we’ll be happy.”