The New One is a hurdler that has captured the public imagination over the years with his tough-as-teal racing style and he needed to dig deep to win a fourth consecutive Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock on Saturday.
The long-time Champion Hurdle bridesmaid will now be aimed at a sterner test of stamina in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival according to his jockey Sam Twiston-Davies.
"He was excellent and he goes for the Stayers' now," he said. "After grinding that out, it looks a really good target and something to look forward to.”
Going on ground that probably didn’t suit him all so well, he had to dig deep into those reserved of gravel as Dan Skelton’s Ch’tibello challenged and momentarily passed him at the tail end of their two-mile trip, before the old boy outstayed his younger rival to come home with his head in front.
That took his total prize money to £762,090.
He’s been chalked up as a 10/1 shot for the three-mile stamina sapper at the festival.
The market for that race is a congested one, with no shortage of viable contenders left in at this point in time. The betting is headed by Jedd O’Keefe’s Sam Spinner, a 4/1 chance.
Willie Mullins’ Albert Bartlett winner Penhill is another of interest further down the market at 9/1, while failed chaser Finian’s Oscar is another intriguing candidate now switched back to the smaller obstacles.
There’ll surely be a meaty roar off the grandstand if fan favourite The New One can land the spoils that day.