15/06/2025
๐๐จ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ง๐ญ.
When The New Lion won the Challow Hurdle at Newbury in December, it was a first Grade 1 win for breeders Jackie and the late Robert Chugg of Little Lodge Farm. The New Lion followed up with a second Grade 1 win in the Turners Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival and remains unbeaten. Something that gives poignancy as one of Robertโs favourite phrases was โItโs still unbeatenโ, when showing his unraced youngsters to prospective buyers.
The fulltime breeding at Little Lodge took over from dairy farming after foot and mouth in 2001, but they had always had a few broodmares alongside the cows. The Chuggs believed in breeding from good mare lines and had the patience to give their stock time to show their potential. The breeding goes back to foundation mares such as Marello, Kerada, Belle Magello and The New Lionโs dam Raitera. Some of the winning offspring these lines have produced are Banjaxed Girl, Le Milos, El Presente, Old Benny, Kateira and Guard Your Dreams. The Chuggs have also been responsible for raising some of Trull House horses such as Santini, My Drogo and Gidleigh Park. Daughters and granddaughters of the original mares are now back in the Little Lodge fold and contributing to the successful formula under Jackieโs charge, who has continued despite the loss of Robert. Robert was well known, and much loved, for his charm, wit and great sales patter! Breeding is a tough game, especially for National Hunt horses, but Jackie is determined to continue their shared hard work, and there is always a field full of unbeaten horses to get excited about!
