Dan Skelton thinks all the attention will be on Constitution Hill when The New Lion takes on one of the stars of the hurdles division in the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle later this month.
The Cheltenham Festival hero, owned by JP McManus, is currently favorite for the showpiece event in Newcastle on November 29.
Having already had a close look at Nicky Henderson’s former champion on a recent galloping morning, the Lodge Hill handler believes his young pretender will have to be as good as he hoped to prove his Champion Hurdle credentials at Gosforth Park.
“I know he’s a favorite, but we have to get down to Constitution Hill level,” Skelton said.
“I don’t think so and the way Nicky has been talking it says he’s back to his best and if that’s the case then it’ll be ‘watch out’ for the rest of us.
“The concentration has to be on Constitution Hill and what he can do, as he has been there and done.
“I have seen him work and if I were his trainer I would be very happy and they have every right to talk bullishly, I think.
“We’re going into it at a very deep level, but I think strangely there’s less pressure on us because we’re coming into this division that’s littered with all these superstars.
“Unfortunately there won’t be a State Man this season but there are others with great reputations or who have been there and done it and Constitution Hill is the example in that respect.
“All eyes will be on him and The New Lion (in Newcastle) and we are entering uncharted territory in terms of rankings – against a horse like Constitution Hill – and trip. We have to go out and do it.”
Although Skelton is keen to take a backseat at Constitution Hill in the build-up, he is confident his unbeaten six-year-old has all the attributes to play his part in what could be an epic clash on Tyneside.
Skelton has already lowered the colors of a Seven Barrows A-lister when L’Eau Du Sud defeated Jonbon at Cheltenham on Friday and like his stablemate, The New Lion will head to Newcastle to find out where he stands in the pecking order.
“It feels like he can reach the level and I wouldn’t put him in if I didn’t think he could do that,” Skelton continued.
“The race he won at the Festival has a good reputation for horses falling back on the trip, so we have a few points, but we know how difficult it will be and the way Nicky talks, Constitution Hill will be hard to beat.
“He’s a horse that wouldn’t be a flashy workhorse and does his best work once he’s on grass. We jumped him on grass last week and he’s been away for the day.
“He anticipates when the racing is going to happen and is quite an unusual character. He can almost read the script – he prepares himself almost more than we train him.
“We needed to have L’Eau Du Sud ready at Cheltenham to find out where we stand against the big boys and it will be the same with The New Lion. He’s got to step into that top flight, he’s going into the backyard of Constitution Hill and he’s got to be ready.”
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