Aintree Hurdle next up for The New One Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies is convinced The New One has what it takes to become a serious contender for next year's Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. The prolific five-year-old showed a smart shift of gear in last Wednesday's Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle to defeat a strong field by upwards of four lengths. Twiston-Davies told the Telegraph: "He is a very smart hurdler who has a good turn of foot, which all points to next year's Champion Hurdle being the long-term target. "He is not overly big, which means he may go the hurdles route, for the time being. "We are thinking about the Aintree Hurdle, over over two and a half miles, as our horse is in tremendous form. "Most of the Irish horses will stay away and wait for Punchestown and I think we can beat the likes of Zarkandar and others in this country. So why not have a shot at it? "But, he will come back in trip eventually and I think a fast-run two miles is what he wants. "The Champion Hurdle might be his race, particularly as Hurricane Fly and company are not getting any younger."
