The season’s father and son theme has continued at Cheltenham as trainer Nigel and jockey Sam Twiston-Davies combined in both the headline events.
Just over half an hour after Double Ross won, stable star The New One furthered his claims for the Festival in March in the International Hurdle.
After big-race successes over the past month for the respective trainers and jockeys of the Tizzard and Moore clans, the Gloucestershire-based Twiston-Davies family were afforded a rousing home welcome.
The New One is now 3-1 favourite with Coral and Ladbrokes for the Champion Hurdle after what was a match on paper with the classy Zarkandar, last year’s winner who came out half a length ahead when the pair met at Aintree in April.
Now out of novice company, the 2-5 market leader delivered a devastating finishing kick when Zarkandar pressed him, conjuring six lengths from almost nothing on the run for the last obstacle.
“It’s different class (and) having the boy on board makes it extra special,” Nigel Twiston-Davies said.
“Winning races with Carl (Llewellyn) who is my best mate was great, but that is an extra bit again.”
Twiston-Davies will now produce The New One again in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.
“He’ll have the entry and as long as he is 100 per cent he will go, as there’s so few races for him otherwise. You’d have to wait until February,” he said.
The New One is regarded by Twiston-Davies as the best he has trained along with Imperial Commander, but the same would not apply to Double Ross who plays more of a supporting role for the stable.
“He’s just a handicapper really, but he is a novice and we have the option of dropping back and doing that and hopefully there’ll be something for him here in March,” the trainer said.
