TEARS FLOW FOR THE NEW ONE

NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES shed a tear when he announced the retirement of The New One – the winner of 20 of his 40 races.

The popular gelding was trying to make it a historic fourth victory in the Unibet International Hurdle but after making the early running he was pulled up before the last.

Twiston-Davies (right) said: “We’ve had some great moments and some disappointments, like when he failed to win the Champion Hurdle. But all of those wins were special.

“He’s been a tremendous horse for us. He helped my son Sam get his career going. The New One is a big part of the family and he will spend his retirement with us here.” Nicky Henderson, who made it a successive victory in yesterday’s International Hurdle with Brain Power, gave The New One a rousing cheer when the gelding paraded for last time after his race. Victory for Brain Power, who was reverting back to hurdles after a poor spell over fences, was nothing to do with Henderson.

He said: “His win today was all down to his owner Michael Buckley as he said it would be a good idea to go back over hurdles.

“I suppose now we will have to go for the Champion Hurdle.”