NEW TRIP FOR ONE
THE NEW ONE attempts three miles for the first time in the Sun Bets Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next month with trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies suggesting “it will be an interesting experiment”.
The 10-year-old, who has won more than £750,000 in prize-money during his career, will make his seventh consecutive Festival appearance.
He has had one victory during that time, in the 2013 Neptune Novices’ Hurdle.
Having come up short in the Champion Hurdle over two miles, Twiston-Davies will opt for the staying hurdle, having had to accept that reigning champion Buveur D’Air is a better horse over the minmum trip.
Improvement
“I think we’re forced into it,” he said. “We’ve taken on Buveur D’Air many times and he beats us every time, so I’ve got to grow up and try something else.
“It will be an interesting experiment as it will be his first time over three miles.
“Some people think it will bring about huge improvement in him and he seems this season to be better than ® he’s ever been, so let’s have a look. Funnily enough, I’ve known for years and years how tough he is, but now he seems to be the most appreciated horse in the world.
“Everybody loves him now.” The New One, who was a game winner of the Unibet Champion Hurdle Trial Hurdle at Haydock last month, is 12-1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle.
Supasundae, who beat 2015 Champion Hurdler Faugheen in the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Festival, is the 3-1 favourite.