Poniros gets International Hurdle entry alongside Sir Gino, The New Lion

January 19, 2026

Poniros has received an entry in Cheltenham’s International Hurdle as the Triumph hero nears a return to the track.

Earlier this month it was revealed Poniros could make his seasonal reappearance here or in the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Connections may be more tempted to head back to Prestbury Park, the scene of an all-time great Cheltenham Festival shock where the five-year-old landed the Friday opener at 100/1 on his first start over hurdles.

Tony Bloom’s son of Golden Horn is priced at 11/1 with the race sponsor Unibet, a thoroughly competitive heat that is expected to feature Champion Hurdle favourite Sir Gino and Turners Novices’ Hurdle winner The New Lion.

Bloom’s racing manager Sean Graham recently told Nick Luck that Poniros is ‘fine and working well’ but sounded unsure on whether he is a genuine contender for the two-mile feature on the opening day of the Festival in March.

Only four horses have won the Champion Hurdle the year after a juvenile campaign and his early season absence was allowing the horse to mature before stepping into open company, still very raw and unexposed with a long career ahead of him.

The Triumph formline with Lulamba has worked out well, who reversed the placings in the Punchestown equivalent and subsequently emerged as a key player in the Arkle with top-level success in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December.

Poniros is 66/1 to win the Champion Hurdle and 25/1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle but if there’s one thing to note about him, he certainly isn’t aware of his odds.

Looking at how many Willie Mullins runners have needed their first outings, it’s safe to assume Poniros will improve plenty for it and this looks merely a stepping stone.

WOW. 100-1

What a shock in the JCB Triumph Hurdle! Poniros beats out East India Dock and Lulamba 😳#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/UfwLVscRP7

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 14, 2025

Sir Gino installed as long odds-on favourite for International Hurdle

Sir Gino has opened up at prohibitive odds of 1/2 for the International, seeking to bolster his Champion Hurdle credentials ahead of the big one in less than two months’ time.

Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten six-year-old made his return after a year off the track with injury in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, storming clear to win by six lengths.

Widely regarded as the most exciting young talent in National Hunt racing, he should prove a very tough nut to crack but there will be some formidable opposition.

Dan Skelton’s The New Lion has been laid out for this race since his fall in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in the autumn, receiving 3lbs from the market leader.

He was possibly harshly treated in the media in the aftermath of that disappointment, well worth his place in this field with a good opportunity to prove he has the boot for two miles.

A test as stiff as Cheltenham’s is right up his street as we know and considering the bounce factor threatening Sir Gino’s cause, The New Lion would be dangerous to write off.