Top 40 winner The New Lion

Held in the highest regard, Top 40 entry The New Lion made an impressive start to his hurdles career winning division one of the two miles three maiden hurdle at Chepstow on Tuesday. A half-brother to stablemate Kateira, the Kayf Tara gelding was a comfortable winner of a bumper at Market Rasen last spring. Strong in the market, Dan Skelton's runner tracked the front running Irish point winner Belliano travelling strongly throughout before taking over approaching the final furlong. Sauntering clear, he won hard held by four and three quarters of a length. The winning time was over four seconds quicker than the second division won by the Paul Nicholls trained Quebecois. Dan Skelton indicated afterwards that the Darren Yates owned gelding will contest another novice hurdle under a penalty before tackling the Grade 1 Challow Novice Hurdle at Newbury (28th December). The five year old is an exciting prospect.

Declan Phelan's Irish Pointers have made a fine start, too, and Sober Glory (15/2) ran out an emphatic winner of the bumper at the Welsh track. The four year old, who won his point for Cormac Doyle, was acquired for £110,000 at the Cheltenham May Sale and Philip Hobbs and Johnson White's new recruit stayed on strongly to pull away inside the final two furlongs. A length and three quarters scorer, he is a smashing young prospect.