THE NEW LION can win the Betfred Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle (2.55pm) at Newbury (1.05pm) on Saturday.

Dan Skelton’s five-year-old can continue his unbeaten start and land the Grade One feature at the Berkshire track. The gelded son of Kayf Tara has looked a potentially smart hurdler in his two starts so far. Having won a bumper comfortably at Market Rasen in May, The New Lion took to hurdling in good style when making a winning debut over obstacles stepped up to 2m3½f in a Maiden Hurdle at Chepstow on his seasonal return in October. He was always travelling well and jumping comfortably behind the leaders before taking over at the last flight and scoring by four-and-three-quarters-of-a-length from Belliano, who has franked the form with a win at Ascot at the weekend.

The New Lion also triumphed over course and distance at the end of last month, again jumping well and travelling just as good before beating Califet En Vol by three lengths. He now takes the step up to Grade One company but he looks well up to the task and can continue on the road to a trip to the Cheltenham Festival and maybe the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse in the spring. The opposition will be the toughest The New Lion has faced so far in his short career and Paul Nicholls – who has a superb record with his novice hurdlers in this race – probably provides the biggest danger to Skelton’s young star in the similarly-unbeaten Regent’s Stroll. He is another who could be a factor at Cheltenham in March, but The New Lion can keep him at bay to triumph. Others in with a chance of going well at Ben Pauling’s It’s Hard To Know and the Jonjo and AJ O’Neill-trained Bill Joyce.

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Skelton stable-mate HOE JOLY SMOKE can also win the Coral Mandarin Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.20pm). The six-year-old won for the first time over fences when staying-on well for a four-and-a-quarter-length success when stepped up to three miles in the Bet At Your Best With Betfair Handicap Chase at Sandown last month. Hoe Joly Smoke had been second on his chasing debut over 2m4f prior to that at Uttoxeter in October. He has the potential to be a smart staying handicap chaser and can land another victory in this 3m1½f contest.

It could be a very good afternoon for the Skelton’s and SKYCUTTER may be part of a treble in the New ‘Bet-In-Race’ With Coral Handicap Chase (For The Hallowe’En Trophy) (1.12pm). The six-year-old got off the mark over fences at the third attempt when scoring at Warwick earlier this month having been second on his first two starts also at Warwick and Wetherby. He can continue his progress with another victory in this two-mile contest.

Joe Tizzard’s RIGHTSOTOM can also make it back-to-back wins in the Coral Racing Club Join For Free Handicap Hurdle (1.45pm). The five-year-old, who joined the Tizzard stable from Thomas Mullins having won a Maiden Hurdle in Ireland in May, got off the mark at the second attempt since the switch to Dorset, with a smooth success at Doncaster last month. This is a tougher race but he can score again despite carrying top weight.

The Jimmy Frost-trained and Bryony Frost-ridden ASIAN SPICE can bring up a hat-trick of victories in the opener, the Play Coral ‘Racing-Super-Series’ For Free Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (12.05pm). The six-year-old won at Exeter last month and also at Windsor just before Christmas and can bring up a quickfire hat-trick ahead of chiefly another eyeing a treble, the Evan Williams-trained Tour Ovalie.

Nicky Henderson may land a double with newcomer AKIMOS in the Coral Committed To Safer Gambling ‘Introductory’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (12.37pm); and SHANAGH BOB in the Coral Get Closer To The Action Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (3.35pm). Shanagh Bob, a winner of Grade Ones at the Cheltenham Festival and also Aintree’s Grand National meeting last season, disappointed on his chasing debut when fifth in a three-mile Limited Novices’ Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter last month. But he will surely do better than that now that he has a run under his belt.

At Catterick MR MAHLER can win the Sky Bet Acca Freeze Novices’ Handicap Chase (1.33pm). Sue Smith’s six-year-old failed to win over hurdles but was third over the smaller obstacles at Newcastle last month and can do better now over fences and can triumph.

Jennie Candlish’s REEL ROSIE – a winner on her second start over obstacles at Sedgefield last month – can triumph again in the Sky Bet mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Herring Queen Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (2.10pm).

Another last-time-out winner, the Peter Atkinson-trained RIBEYE, can add to his victory at Musselburgh last month with another success in the Sky Bet Super Week Supersized Handicap Chase (Go North Red Rum Series Qualifier) (2.45pm).

Others who can win at Catterick are Philip Neville’s course and distance scorer Not Staying Long in the Sky Bet Build A Bet Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (12.25pm); and the Laura Morgan-trained ACHILLE DES ROCS in the finale, the Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier) (3.20pm)

At Leicester Pam Sly’s course and distance winner WILLIAM CODY can go in again in the Three French Hens – Two Turtle Doves Handicap Chase (2.30pm). While Venetia Williams’ Lady Pretender can win the And A Partridge In A Pear Tree Handicap Chase (1.20pm); and the Olly Murphy-trained GAVROCHE D’ALLIER should land the Three French Hens Two Turtle Doves Novices' Handicap Chase (1.55pm).

In Ireland at Leopardstown dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero GALOPIN DES CHAMPS can turn the form around with Willie Mullins’ stable-mate Fact To File to grab a second successive victory in the Grade One Savills Chase (2.35pm). The seven-year-old, who has proved himself the premier staying chaser over the past few years chiefly with those two Gold Cup victories, finished third on his seasonal return to rising star Fact To File in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase last month. That was over an inadequate 2m4f and with the run under his belt and now back up to an extended three miles, Galopin Des Champs can triumph on the way to his bid for three-in-a-row in the blue riband at Prestbury Park in March.

Joseph O’Brien’s HOME BY THE LEE can also land a second victory in the Grade One Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle (2pm). The nine-year-old won this race two years ago and having also triumphed in the Grade Two Lismullen Hurdle at Navan last month he can score again.

Wright Ones

NEWBURY

12.05pm Asian Spice
12.37pm Akimos
1.12pm Skycutter
1.45pm Rightsotom
2.20pm Hoe Joly Smoke (NAP)
2.55pm The New Lion
3.35pm Shanagh Bob

CATTERICK

12.25pm Not Staying Long
1pm Supreme George
1.33pm Mr Mahler
2.10pm Reel Rosie
2.45pm Ribeye
3.20pm Achille Des Rocs

LEICESTER

12.15pm Butch
12.45pm Northern Reel
1.25pm Superbolt
1.55pm Gavroche D’allier
2.30pm Lady Pretender
3.10pm William Cody

NEWCASTLE

3pm Urban Road
3.30pm Phone Tag
4pm Showering
4.30pm Blue Lakota
5pm Lahab
5.30pm Red Maids
6pm Mahato
6.30pm Darlo Pride
7pm Sir Maxi

SOUTHWELL

3.45pm Noisy Music
4.15pm Little Peter
4.45pm Yes I’m Mali
5.15pm Caramay
5.45pm King Chaos
6.15pm Always Waving
6.45pm Azaniya
7.15pm Harry The Haggler
7.45pm King Of The Jungle

LEOPARDSTOWN

2pm Home By The Lee
2.35pm Galopin Des Champs

SUNDAY'S NAP: Quick Draw (Doncaster 2.47pm)