SAM GETS LUCKY BREAK TO RETURN ON THE NEW ONE

SAM TWISTON-DAVIES will make an unexpected return to partner The New One in today’s attempt to win the £130,000 Unibet International Hurdle at Cheltenham for an unprecedented fourth time. Twiston-Davies has not ridden since November 12 when he fractured an elbow falling from Double Ross at Sandown. While the jockey had harboured hopes of returning to ride his favourite horse, that had looked increasingly unlikely as he battled to regain full flexion in his arm. But, after extensive physiotherapy at the Injured Jockey Fund’s rehabilitation centre in Lambourn, Twiston-Davies received clearance to return at lunchtime yesterday. The jockey said: ‘In the last week (physiotherapist) Emma Edwards has worked really hard with me. ‘The New One has got the heart of a lion and an excellent record in the race. It’s a dream to be riding him.’ Twiston-Davies won the International on The New One in 2013 and 2014, while Richard Johnson was on board when the son of King’s Theatre won last season. The New One, the 7-4 favourite, is the only ride of the day for Twiston-Davies in a line-up which includes Supreme Novices’ Hurdle runner-up Melon and My Tent Or Yours, last year’s runner-up and three-time Champion Hurdle second. Twiston-Davies (right) is trying to extend a tremendous pre-Christmas run for his trainer father Nigel, whose successes in the last six weeks include the Charlie Hall and Betfair Chases with Bristol De Mai, Becher Chase with Blaklion and BetVictor Gold Cup with Splash of Ginge. The latter lines up again in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup. NICKY HENDERSON’S Hennessy Gold Cup second Whisper will run in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day and the in-out saga of Cue Card has moved back to out, with his trainer Colin Tizzard now saying the 2015 winner will probably miss the race.