Betfair Hurdle: Knappers Hill in "good shape" for Newbury

Knappers Hill bids to give champion trainer Paul Nicholls a third triumph in the Betfair Hurdle as 16 horses were confirmed on Monday for the £155,000 prize at Newbury this weekend.

The six-year-old is a novice with just three runs over hurdles under his belt - the latest coming in the Grade Two Kennel Gate at Ascot where he was third to Jonbon - and aims to emulate Zarkandar (2012) and Pic D'Orhy (2020) in the highlight on Betfair Super Saturday.

Paul Nicholls is looking to Knappers Hill giving him a third victory in the race after Pic D’Orhy in 2020 and Zarkandar in 2012.

The six-year-old is a novice with just three runs over hurdles under his belt, the latest coming in the Grade Two Kennel Gate at Ascot where he was third to Jonbon.

“We confirmed him this morning, he’s in good shape and its been his aim for a little while,” said the Ditcheat handler.

“It’s quite common now that we aim some novices that we feel are quite well handicapped at this as they have a good record in the race.

“This looked the obvious race after Ascot because having won two novice hurdles, he’d have a double penalty, but this is a nice race for a nice horse to run in.

“He’s off a nice mark and in what is sure to be a fast-run race, it should suit him better than at Ascot - but that has turned out to be quite a nice race.”

Nicky Henderson has won the Betfair Hurdle five times and has two possibles this time in Broomfield Burg and First Street, while Colin Tizzard has the ante-post favourite Jpr One. The five-year-old has won two of his three starts.

Onemorefortheroad has sustained a minor setback that has ruled him out of the prestigious prize.

Neil King’s seven-year-old was prominent in the ante-post betting at around 10-1 and proved the most notable absentee as 16 horses were confirmed for the prestigious handicap hurdle, the highlight of the Betfair Super Saturday.

“He’s just suffered a slight setback, so we’re not going to be ready in time," said King. "It’s just a minor problem. Hopefully he’ll be back out as soon as we can get him right.

“It’s a minor one but annoying it’s come at this time, but that’s horses. There will be another day.”

The weights are headed by Soaring Glory, who could bid to become only the second horse to win back-to-back renewals. Jonjo O’Neill’s charge would emulate Rosyth, who took the first two runnings in 1963 and 1964, though the Nicky Henderson-trained Geos struck in 2000 and 2004.