Nemean Lion hunts down Salver for gutsy success

Nemean Lion toughed it out to claim victory in the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle at Windsor.

The eight-year-old has been a fantastic servant to trainer Kerry Lee, with his five previous wins over obstacles including Grade Two triumphs in the Premier Novices’ Hurdle at Kelso and the Kingwell at Wincanton.

Fresh from a fine weight-carrying success in a Hereford handicap, Nemean Lion was the marginal favourite for this £100,000 conditions event at 85-40 and showed a good deal of tenacity to go with his undoubted talent to get the job done under Richard Patrick.

Salver and Blueking d’Oroux took the five-strong field along for much of the two-and-a-half-mile contest, with the latter briefly cutting loose before being joined again in the straight.

With Blueking d’Oroux’s effort petering out and both Iberico Lord and Langer Dan unable to get seriously involved, it was left to Nemean Lion to throw down the biggest challenge to Salver and following a thrilling duel, it was Lee’s stable star who secured a half-length verdict.

Patrick told Sky Sports Racing: “When you ride a nice horse like him, it makes your life so easy. As I was saying to Kerry, he’s got no quirks and no kinks – he’s so straightforward.

“We went a good gallop early and they slowed it right down going down the back, which I thought was ideal because stepping up in trip, we’ve got speed and it turned into a bit of a sprint.

“He did it brilliantly and it wouldn’t be him without kicking a hurdle out of the ground! He’s better than ever at the minute and today he’s done it very well.”

Coral make Nemean Lion a 50-1 chance for the Stayers’ Hurdle and 66-1 for the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

A delighted Lee told ITV Racing: “He’s a superstar, he loves being a racehorse, he’s so much fun.

“He’s immaculately behaved but he’s got so much personality, he loves being a racehorse and loves being in Herefordshire and going out in the field.

“He’s really thrived since he moved to us and now he’s eight, he’s really matured. I know he’s been on the go a long time as a Flat horse but he really just does enjoy life.

“On the Flat, he was always flat out, but he finds this comparatively easy, although he had to work really hard to win that race.”