NIGEL Twiston-Davies is invariably in good form at this early stage of the new National Hunt season and his grand old campaigner The New One did not let him down last Saturday.

Now nine, the Cheltenham regular made all in the Ladbrokes Welsh Champion Hurdle, a limited handicap, at Ffos Las and had enough in reserve to resist fellow 2/1 joint-favourite Clyne by three-parts of a length. It was 16 lengths back to Sire De Grugy, who was no doubt being primed for a return to fences.

The New One was partnered for the first time by amateur rider Zac Brown, who did a fine job and whose 5lb allowance probably made the difference. Interestingly, the race was a remarkable triumph for the form book, The New One having accounted for Clyne by a length when conceding him 8lb in the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock in January. The terms were the same last week as he landed his 19th career success, taking his earnings close to a million pounds. He remains unbeaten when making his seasonal reappearance.

“It’s very possible we’ll look at the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham next month,” Twiston-Davies said.

APPROACH DEBUT

West Approach, a half-brother to Thistlecrack, always promised to be top-class over fences and made the perfect start in the Ladbrokes Download The App Beginners Chase over two miles and five furlongs.

Sent off at 7/4 with punters marginally favouring Paul Nicholls’ Brelan D’as, West Approach went left at times but went on again four out and beat Twiston-Davies’ Jameson by nine lengths, with Brelan D’as only third.

“We could step him up a grade or look for another race like this with a penalty,” said winning trainer Colin Tizzard. “He’ll go to Cheltenham sooner rather than later.”

Demon on the mark

THE big stables are clicking into gear and Jonjo O’Neill has a promising four-year-old in Demon D’Aunou, who easily justified odds of 4/5 in a division of the maiden hurdle at Market Rasen. Well connected, the French-bred cost £130,000 after a couple of outings in his native land and carries the colours of J.P. McManus.

Nicholls string in flying form

PAUL Nicholls is also flying in these early days and completed a four-timer at Kempton on Sunday after two short-priced wins on Saturday with Roman De Senam at Stratford and Capitaine at Market Rasen.

Always a reliable ally where favourite backers are concerned, the former champion supplied a quartet of market leaders - Risk And Roll, Amour De Nuit, Old Guard and Present Man - and all were successful. Amour De Nuit and Old Guard both landed listed hurdles.

Yanworth passes his first test

TOP hurdler Yanworth made a pleasing debut over fences at Exeter on Tuesday when he beat Sternrubin by two lengths.

Neither horse jumped well early on off a slow pace but Yanworth was much the best up the straight and took command easily after the last, to please his trainer and owner, JP McManus who was in attendance at the track. The seven-year-old is joint favourite with Finian’s Oscar for the JLT at Cheltenham.