Nigel Twiston-Davies' Festival hero The New One has confirmed himself a serious contender for next year's Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, writes Jonathan Herbert.
Facing the biggest test of his career so far, he went down fighting on the first day of the John Smith's Grand National meeting today.
The five-year-old, ridden by the Guiting Power trainer's son Sam, was narrowly denied by the year older Zarkandar in a star-studded John Smith's Aintree Hurdle over two and half miles.
With both horses giving their all in the closing stages, Ruby Walsh's mount came out on top by half a length with the likes of Oscar Whisky, Grandouet and Countrywide Flame trailing behind them.
Twiston-Davies said: "The horse has run a superb race.
"He'd won everywhere except the last 100 yards and dropping back to two miles will probably help him."
The New One proved himself one of jump racing's rising stars with victory in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the Festival last month.
Beaten only three times in ten races, he looks Twiston-Davies' best-ever chance of winning the Champion Hurdle.
Zarkandar's trainer Paul Nicholls said he would be aimed at next year's Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Festival, setting up a potential clash with his illustrious stablemate Big Buck's.
David Bridgwater's stable star The Giant Bolster finished last of the eight runners in the Betfred Bowl, won by First Lieutenant.
After being up with the leaders, Tom Scudamore lost his position after hitting a fence and faded in the home straight.
He finished one place behind Wayward Prince from Hilary Parrott's stable in Redmarley.
First Lieutenant's jockey Bryan Cooper said the gelding had shown tenacity in beating Menorah by three-quarters of a length.
"I was on and off the bridle but he jumped well and I knew he stayed and he winged the last two," he said.
"He gives you all you need."
Alan King said the decision to miss the Festival played a crucial role in L'Unique winning the Matalan Anniversary Four-year-old Juvenile Hurdle.
Wayne Hutchinson challenged late on L'Unique and she won by a length and a quarter from Runswick Royal.
King said: "I think not running at Cheltenham probably helped her and she seems to go on any ground.
"Beforehand I'd have been happy with being in the first four.
"That's her for the season as we resisted entering for Punchestown.
"She'll have a good summer off and there are lot of a mares hurdles to look at next year."
Dursley-based owner Terry Warner won the matalan.co.uk Red Rum Handicap Chase with Oiseau De Nuit.
