Fan favourite The New One dies suddenly after bout of colic

Top-class hurdler The New One died on Saturday following a bout of colic, less than two years after being retired.

The 12-year-old earned more than £1 million in a hugely successful career with Nigel Twiston-Davies, for whom he won four Haydock Park Champion Hurdle Trials and three International Hurdles.

Wayne Jones, who looked after The New One during his racing career and had had him when he retired in December 2018, said: "He got colic early this morning. I took him down to the vets and it had ruptured, there was no saving him.

The New One pictured parading after his retirement at Haydock, where he was unbeaten in five runsCredit: Grossick Racing

"We're all absolutely gutted. I looked after him his whole life at Nigel Twiston-Davies's and I had him from when he retired. He's been a big part of my life for the last ten years.

"Nigel and the owners Gino Paletta and Simon Such are all devastated."

The New One won 20 of his 40 races and was a virtual ever present in top company from the day he won the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2013.

"He won over £1 million in prize-money just over hurdles, which is some achievement," Jones added.

"He won the International Hurdle at Cheltenham three times and he won the Haydock Champion Hurdle Trial four times and he had it named after him.

Three stars of the game: My Tent Or Yours (left), The New One (centre) and Melon (right) battle it out in the 2017 International HurdleCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"He was a fabulous horse, you couldn't knock him. He was such an easy horse to do anything with."

The New One had his final race when pulled up in the International at Cheltenham two years ago.

"He'd had a great retirement," Jones said. "I took him to the Horse of the Year Show last year, he'd been hunting and he'd finished second in an online show which they showed on the Opening Show on ITV."

Read more on The New One:

The New One's groom Wayne Jones remembers retired star with affection

Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies pay tribute after retirement of The New One

Our hero The New One never lets us down

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