The New One saw off the game challenge of Rayvin Black to win the StanJames.com Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock.
What had been set to be a clash with fellow British two-mile hopeful Peace And Co was dashed when connections of the latter opted to skip the Grade Two event.
But The New One was still made to work as Oliver Sherwood's outsider ran an extraordinary race, digging his heels in at the start before bowling along in front and then almost running out on the stable bend.
The New One and Sam Twiston-Davies loomed easily to his shoulder three out and after they jumped the second-last together it looked like 'job done' at the final hurdle, only for Rayvin Black to refuse to fold.
With Twiston-Davies getting sufficiently vigorous on the run to the line, the 8-13 favourite was always doing enough for a two-and-a-quarter-length call, repeating last year's success, giving 6lb to the runner-up.