StanJames.com Champion Hurdle Trial |
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| £75,000 added, Haydock 14:40 4yo plus, 1m 7f 144y, Class 1  |
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| Saturday 21st January 2017 | |
1 The New One 6/4F
2 Clyne 9/1
3 L'Ami Serge 13/8
5 ran NR: Melodic Rendezvous Distances: 1l, 3¾l, 21l
Time: 3m 57.40s (slow by 17.40s)
A third success for The New One in the Champion Hurdle Trial Hurdle at Haydock
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The New One overcame his usual jumping errors to win this race for the third year running.
The well-supported outsider Clyne, moving out of handicap company, was given a bold sight under Adam Wedge, kicking clear off the home turn and quickly putting distance between himself and The New One and L'Ami Serge.
Just as the sprint developed, The New One did himself no favours when smashing his way through the third-last flight and at that stage it appeared that L'Ami Serge was clearly going best of the trio under Daryl Jacob.
L'Ami Serge was still travelling well as the trio came to the last and held every chance, but once again he didn't find anywhere as much as might have been expected and instead it was the rallying The New One who finished strongest and denied Clyne in a driving finish by a length.
In victory, 6/4 favourite The New One was taking his record outside of Grade One company to a remarkable 16 wins from 17 starts.
Cyrus Darius, returning to action after a season off with injury, finished back in fourth, while Fighting Fifth Hurdle winner Irving crashed out of the race shortly before halfway.
The New One has held a variety of possible options over the course of the season so far, but winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said he was minded to go now for another tilt at the Stan James Champion Hurdle, the race in which he was an unlucky-looking third three years ago.
He remains a 25/1 chance with Sky Bet in their non-runner no-bet market for that race.
"He's a proper racehorse. The sort of horse we dream about," said the trainer.
"We've everything covered, but, at the moment, I think we are (heading for the) Champion Hurdle. It's worth another go, I'd have thought."
His son and successful jockey Sam Twiston-Davies, on the other hand, is keener on a possible tilt at the Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle.
He said: "He never does it prettily when he comes here, but he always gets the job done.
"It's a long straight here and you're trying to keep something up your sleeve, but you know when you ask him for everything, he's going to give it to you. Three out he was messy and two out wasn't much better, so I went for the safe thing at the last.
"I'll get in trouble if Dad sees me offering my opinion. He won't talk to me if I say the wrong thing! But I just wonder whether his best chance of winning at Cheltenham might be over three miles rather than two."
Stanjames.com Champion Hurdle Trial
£75,000 added, 4yo plus, 1m 7f 144y, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Soft
| Pos | Dist | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | The New One (IRE) 6/4f | Sam Twiston-Davies 11-12 |
N A Twiston-Davies | 9 | |
| 2nd | 1 | Clyne 9/1 | Adam Wedge 11-4 |
Evan Williams | 7 |
| 3rd | 3¾ | L'Ami Serge (IRE) 13/8 | D A Jacob 11-4 |
N J Henderson | 7 |
| 4th | 21 | Cyrus Darius 16/1 | B Hughes 11-4 |
J M Jefferson | 8 |
| F | Irving 6/1 | Harry Cobden 11-12 |
P F Nicholls | 9 | |
| NR | Melodic Rendezvous 25/1 | Matt Griffiths 11-4 |
J Scott | 11 |
