The New One remains on course for the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton having been forced to miss an intended appearance at Cheltenham this weekend.
The New One remains on course for the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton having been forced to miss an intended appearance at Cheltenham this weekend.
Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies had hoped to see his stable star bid for a third successive victory in the StanJames.com International Hurdle, but is now keeping his powder dry for a likely clash with last season's Champion Hurdle hero Faugheen at Kempton on Boxing Day.
"The New One will go to Kempton on Boxing Day. He did a really good piece of work this morning," said Twiston-Davies.
"We wanted to come back and win our third International but he had a septic corn on his foot which took a lot of digging out and unfortunately the race came too soon."
The Naunton-based trainer also had news of Bristol De Mai, runner-up to the hugely impressive Ar Mad from Gary Moore's stable in last Saturday's Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown.
Twiston-Davies added: "Bristol De Mai ran a superb race and well done to the Moores as they obviously have a very nice horse
"As he has only won once over fences we will probably drop him back (in grade) and try to win a race with a penalty.
"He could possibly go to Leicester straight after Boxing Day or something like that."