Nemean Lion on course for Windsor defence on Friday

Nemean Lion is on course to bid for back-to-back victories in the Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Hurdle at Windsor on Friday.

Kerry Lee’s stable star claimed his seventh career victory in the £100,000 contest 12 months ago, and went on to make it eight in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell on his next start.

He was disappointingly pulled up when seemingly having his stamina limitations exposed over three miles in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but made a promising start to the new campaign dropped back in trip for the Fighting Fifth in a Newcastle, profiting from the high-profile falls of Constitution Hill and The New Lion in finishing a close-up third behind Golden Ace and Anzadam.

Nemean Lion was last week entered for the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on February 1, but he is instead set to return to Windsor on the opening day of the Berkshire Winter Million Racing Festival.

“Friday is the plan and we’re looking forward to it,” Lee confirmed.

“It’s always tough and it’s a wide-open race, I think. Giving weight away to Take No Chances is a tall order on what could be heavy ground, but I think we’ve got to go and give it our best shot.

“Any prize is nice to win, but I think this Winter Million weekend is a great initiative. It’s a meeting everyone is clammering to have a winner at and trying to win some of the £1.25million that’s on offer.

“The revival of Windsor and this whole weekend is brilliant and we should be doing more of it.”