RISING nine, talented hurdler The New One might well have started a belated chasing career at Exeter last month. However, frost intervened, the meeting was called off and he won a third Grade 2 stanjames.com International Hurdle at Cheltenham instead. Nigel Twiston-Davies says he will stay over hurdles now, with another tilt at the Champion in March on the agenda.

Winning connections were understandably delighted but celebrations were tinged with anxiety, intended jockey Ryan Hatch having been taken to hospital in Bristol after a very nasty fall the previous day which left him with his sternum broken on both sides and a fracture to his back.