The New One lands third International Hurdle

The New One won the stanjames.com International Hurdle for a third time with a courageous front-running display at Cheltenham.

With his chasing career put on hold after the abandonment of Exeter last week, The New One showed his well-being by adding this year's renewal to his wins in 2013 and 2014.

Scoring at Cheltenham for the sixth time, The New One (13-8 favourite) enjoyed the forceful tactics of Richard Johnson, who was riding the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained eight-year-old for the first time after his intended pilot, Ryan Hatch, was injured in a fall at Cheltenham on Friday.

My Tent Or Yours tried to make a race of it, but The New One kept on dourly to prevail by three and a half lengths.

Johnson said: "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.

"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.

"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."

WATCH: A third International Hurdle triumph for The New One at Cheltenham. Joins Relkeel and Birds Nest as a triple winner of it. pic.twitter.com/4A3o2qPIyx

— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) December 10, 2016