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The New One won the 3.00 at Cheltenham. Julian Hebert

The New One lands third International Hurdle victory at Cheltenham

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies had a successful day.

THE NEW ONE has won the stanjames.com International Hurdle for the third time, following an impressive front-running display at Cheltenham.

Having won in both 2013 and 2014, the 13/8 favourite rode by Richard Johnson faced competition from My Tent Or Yours but held on to prevail by three and a half lengths.

The champion jockey was riding the eight-year-old, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies for the first time after his intended pilot was injured in a fall at Cheltenham on Friday.

“He’s a lovely old horse and I’m very lucky to ride him today. Poor Ryan Hatch had a nasty fall yesterday, I’m sure he’s watching frustrated but hopefully he’ll be back soon,” Johnson said after the race.

“I was very pleased to get the ride, Sam (Twiston-Davies) told me how to ride him, he said he stays well and he kept finding. He really jumped the last quick and well and he’s outstayed them really.

The International - Saturday - Cheltenham Racecourse Jockey Richard Johnson. Scott Heavey Scott Heavey

“He won here as a novice over two-five and they’ve always known he stays well. Maybe as he has got older he has lost some of his speed and Nigel told me to be positive.

“He’s been a great horse, this is the third time he’s won this race and very few horses do that and keep at this level for so long. I don’t know if he will go chasing, but it was a great decision to run him today.”

Meanwhile, another Twiston-Davies-trained horse ran to victory in the 2.25 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

13/8 favourite Wholestone handled the testing conditions in admirable fashion to see off stiff competition from Ami Desbois.

Wholestone had to dig deep for Daryl Jacob to gain the verdict by a length.

Defi Du Seuil, trained by Phillip Hobbs, and jockey B J Geraghty claimed the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle, while Alana King’s Coeur de Lion finished second.

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