Knappers Hill has "every chance" in Kingwell Hurdle
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
(Photo: Francesca Altoft / focusonracing.com)
By Graham Clark
Paul Nicholls believes the switch to a quicker surface will give Knappers Hill ‘every chance’ of regaining the winning touch and maintaining his unbeaten record around Wincanton in the Jennings Bet Kingwell Hurdle on Saturday.
The seven-year-old will bid to become the first horse since Melodic Rendezvous in the 2013/14 campaign to win the £70,000 Grade Two prize and the Elite Hurdle, another Wincanton feature, in the same season.
Knappers Hill came up short in his hat-trick bid for the season on his first start over an extended two and a half miles when fourth in the Grade Two careers @ dornangroup.com Relkeel Hurdle on New Year’s Day.
Finishing one place ahead of him at Cheltenham was First Street and the Nicky Henderson runner reopposes again, but Paul Nicholls believes that Knappers Hill can tuen the tables this weekend with conditions more to his liking in the two-mile feature.
Nicholls, who is seeking a fifth Kingwell Hurdle success, said: “He won the Elite Hurdle over course and distance earlier in the season, so we know he acts on the track.
“He has to give First Street two pounds which isn’t ideal. He could do without the penalty, but he has got it. However, he is fit, fresh and well - he has every chance.
“He ran okay at Cheltenham last time, but he just didn’t get two and a half miles on soft ground - end of story.
“The International Hurdle at Cheltenham would have been ideal for him in December when the ground would have been more suitable for him, but unfortunately that meeting was called off. He needs good ground and he doesn’t want it soft.
“Although First Street beat him last time that was over two and a half miles on soft ground and he didn’t perform that day. He is ready to go now and we are hopeful of a good run back on better ground.”
With regular pilot Harry Cobden riding Pic D’Orhy in the Betfair Ascot Chase on the same day, Bryony Frost will ride Knappers Hill for the first time on the track and the nine-time winner impressed under the rider in a recent schooling session.
Nicholls said: “Bryony schooled him on Tuesday morning and he jumped beautifully.
“She has ridden him plenty of times at home so she knows him well enough.
“The owners are keen for her to ride as she rides Frodon for Mr Vogt, who owns him with Mr Barber, so that all works out well.”
Whatever the result at the weekend, one race Knappers Hill will not be contesting afterwards is the Unibet Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after Nicholls opted to take him out at the latest scratching stage.
However, while a potential outing in the Grade One Aintree Hurdle in April could beckon for Knappers Hill later in the campaign, Nicholls already has one eye on next season when his attention will be switched from hurdles to fences.
He added: “Being realistic he isn’t a Champion Hurdle horse and we are not going to pretend that he is. If the International Hurdle was on, and he if had of gone and won it, that would have been his Gold Cup.
“We could end up stepping him back up in trip at the end of the season for the Aintree Hurdle over two and a half miles or if it stays dry I could end up running him Saturday then the following Sunday in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell.
“If we did end up doing the two races in quick succession we would then give him a nice holiday before going novice chasing. He will be a lovely novice chaser next season and we are already thinking about that.”
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