JOCKEY Sam Twiston-Davies has confirmed connections of The New One will use a pacemaker in the Stan James Champion Hurdle to avoid a repeat of Thursday's Christmas Hurdle when the exciting five-year-old went down narrowly to My Tent Or Yours.
The New One led three out in the six-runner Kempton event but blundered at the last and was caught by the Nicky Henderson-trained star.
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The pair head the Champion Hurdle betting at a general 3-1, and Twiston-Davies, whose father Nigel trains The New One and was kicking himself for not saddling a pacemaker at Kempton, is convinced the form can be turned around in a truly run race at Cheltenham.
In an interview in Sunday's Racing Post, the rider said: "Although everyone says there will be lots of pace in the Champion Hurdle that is not a given. In fact nobody can actually name a horse you can guarantee will set a decent pace and, having gone through the main ones with a chance, I certainly can't see one.
"So it would make sense for us to throw one in to make sure there is a gallop on for The New One and so we will run a pacemaker."
Pacemakers are a regular sight in big Flat races but much rarer over jumps, and Twiston-Davies added: "We've got one in mind to do the job and it's all about having as many bases covered as possible."