Very sad news this week with the death of Walter Swinburn at age of 55,Shergar’s jockey was a great horseman and true legend of the weighing room RIP the Choirboy.
The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained The New One (13/8 Fav) won the £130,000 Grade Two StanJames.com International Hurdle (3.00pm) for the third time when scoring by three and a half lengths from My Tent Or Yours with Old Guard was a further 12 lengths back in third.
Previously successful in the 2013 and 2014 renewals of the StanJames.com International Hurdle, The New One made all the running today and never looked in serious danger, staying on strongly after the last in the two mile and a furlong contest.
The New One joins Relkeel and Birds Nest as a triple winner of the StanJames.com International Hurdle. He is now 25/1 for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at The Festival with the sponsor.
Nigel Twiston-Davies said: “It worked out brilliantly. It’s a day of great sadness in a way because it would have been poor Ryan Hatch’s ride. What a shame for him – I am sure that he will be watching on telly.”
“I have got to thank Andrew Nicholson, who has got his jumping right. He has got us helping The New One to keep going straight. You could never make the running with him before because he would jump to the right but he didn’t do it today. The way we rode him today, out in front, is what he wants.”
“He is an extraordinary horse. He cost me £20,000 and has won over £750,000 – what a lovely horse. The abandonment at Exeter was the best abandonment that ever happened and I must send them a Christmas card! Chasing is well out of my mind now, at least until next year.”
“We will go for the Champion Hurdle and why not? He is probably not quite good enough now but he certainly was three seasons ago, when he was unlucky not to win. He has different riding tactics and, now that he is going straight, maybe he can do it.”
Richard Johnson added: “The New One is a lovely old horse. I am very lucky to ride him today – Ryan Hatch had a nasty fall yesterday. I am sure that he now watching on TV frustrated and hopefully he will be back soon. I am very pleased to get the ride.”
“Sam [Twiston-Davies] told me how to ride him and Nigel said that he definitely stays well and I should make it a test. From two hurdles out, he kept finding. He has a new bit and it definitely seems to have kept him a bit straighter and he has really jumped the last two quick and well.”
“He won as a novice over two miles and five furlongs, so they have always known that he stays well. As he is getting older, he has probably lost a little of his speed, so Nigel told me to be positive.”
“It’s the third time that he has won this race and very few horses can do that and be at this level for so long. I am not sure whether he will go chasing but it was a great decision to run him here today.”
Barry Geraghty said of the runner-up My Tent Or Yours: “The New One was very good on the day and was giving My Tent Or Yours weight, so it add to his performance. I am little frustrated with My Tent Or Yours and maybe he is not quite the horse he was in the Champion Hurdle last season. It was a good run but hats off to the winner.”
“The ground wasn’t ideal but we were getting weight, so that might have cancelled it out. We were beaten fair and square, and there can be no arguments.”
Unowwhatimeanharry has been well backed ahead of Saturday’s Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot.
Yours In Sport!
The Colonel
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