StanJames.com International Hurdle 173h5n |
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| Grade 2, Cheltenham £130,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 1f, Class 1 |
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| Saturday 14th December 2013 | |
135nu
1 The New One 2/5F
2 Zarkandar 5/2
3 Jumps Road 100/1
7 ran Distances: 6l, 6l, 6l
TIME 4m 4.45s (slow by 9.95s)
The New One confirmed his position as ante-post favourite for the Stan James Champion Hurdle at The Festival in March when taking the £130,000 Grade Two StanJames.com International Hurdle from his main rival Zarkandar by six lengths.
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The New One, successful for the fourth time at Cheltenham, started the 2/5 favourite, while Zarkandar went off at 5/2, with 100/1 chance Jumps Road third, six lengths adrift of the runner-up.
Zarkandar soon took up the running before The New One cruised up to gain the advantage before the last. The new leader made a slight mistake at the final flight and Zarkandar, switched out, came back before The New One lengthened and went away up the run-in.
It was a fantastic big-race double for Nigel Twiston-Davies and Sam Twiston-Davies.
Sam Twiston-Davies declared: “Thank God he is tough. I thought Zarkandar was beaten and was almost more worried about Paul Moloney (on Court Minstrel) for a minute. Then I missed the last but I gave him a kick in the belly and off he went. I was bit annoyed with myself because the one thing I wasn’t going to do was hit the front before the last.
"Thank God the horse is very good – I cannot take much credit. Wayne Jones rides him all the time at home – I just get to school him occasionally. He is a so relaxed and what a good horse.”
Nigel Twiston-Davies said: “It was great – really good. It was a relief as he was expected to win. It is all hype but he proved it today by quickening away like that. He is a most exciting animal – so lovely and straightforward. We are lucky we have him.
"We are looking at the Champion Hurdle.”
The New One is the 3/1 favourite for the Stan James Champion Hurdle.
Rory Jiwani of StanJames.com said: “The New One underlined his Champion Hurdle credentials by beating last year’s winner Zarkandar without a great deal of fuss. There’s plenty to come from Nigel Twiston-Davies’ star and he’s our new 3/1 favourite for the Stan James Champion Hurdle in March."
Stanjames.com International Hurdle
£130,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 1f, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Good
| Pos |
Horse Trainer |
Jockey Weight |
SP Beaten Distance |
| 1 |
The New One N A Twiston-Davies |
Sam Twiston-Davies 11st 8lbs |
2 - 5 Winner |
| 2 |
Zarkandar P F Nicholls |
D A Jacob 11st 8lbs |
5 - 2 6 lengths |
| 3 |
Jumps Road C L Tizzard |
Brendan Powell 11st 0lbs |
100 - 1 6 lengths |
| 4 |
Court Minstrel Evan Williams |
Paul Moloney 11st 4lbs |
16 - 1 6 lengths |
| 5 |
Albert Hall A Chaille-Chaille |
M Carroux 11st 4lbs |
40 - 1 86 lengths |
| 6 |
Hawkhill Tim Vaughan |
R Johnson 11st 4lbs |
100 - 1 16 lengths |
| Fell |
Seabreeze D'ho C Le Galliard |
D Cottin 11st 4lbs |
40 - 1 |
