Tag Archive for: Knappers Hill

Hermes Allen set to represent Nicholls at Kempton, with Knappers Hill sidelined

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Paul Nicholls has revealed that talented novice chaser Knappers Hill will miss his big festive target and is probably out for the season having suffered a setback.

The seven-year-old, who was unbeaten as a bumper horse before going on to score seven times as a hurdler, appeared set to take high-rank over fences this season following a thoroughly impressive victory at Wincanton in the “Rising Stars” Novices’ Chase.

He was due to contest the Grade One Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on Boxing Day, but there is set to be a shuffling of the Ditcheat pack with fellow top novice operator Hermes Allen poised to skip an intended outing in Ascot’s Noel Novices’ Chase on Friday to fill Knappers Hill’s Kempton vacancy.

Hermes Allen impressed at Newbury on his chasing bow
Hermes Allen impressed at Newbury on his chasing bow (David Davies/PA)

“I was going to run Knappers Hill in the Kauto Star, but sadly he’s had a little setback and we might end up missing the rest of the season with him,” Nicholls told Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday programme.

“It’s only minor, but I see him possibly as a horse who could run in the King George next season, so I think we need to stop and get him right.

“I’m going to reroute Hermes Allen to the Kauto Star now rather than go to Ascot this week, because I’d love to run him in a Grade One, especially over three miles.

“You play your cards and try to keep them all apart and then something like this happens, so Hermes will almost certainly go to Kempton on Boxing Day.”



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Rubaud shows Elite ability to complete Nicholls’ four-timer

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Rubaud brought up a fabulous Wincanton four-timer for Paul Nicholls with a dominant display in the JenningsBet Elite Hurdle.

Sent off the 1-2 favourite in the hands of Harry Cobden, the five-year-old was always to the fore and dealt with the brief challenge of Gary Moore’s Hansard with the minimum of fuss to run out a four-and-a-quarter-length winner.

It was Rubaud’s fourth successive victory having thrived at Kempton on his reappearance and he now looks set for a potential clash with Constitution Hill at the Sunbury track in the Christmas Hurdle.

“He is just improving rapidly,” said Nicholls. “He goes a gallop, he jumps and he quickens. He sprinted away from the back of the last there and you wouldn’t know what is in the back of the tank. We like improving horses like that.

“It was a nice race at Kempton Park and he has improved since then. I loved the way he quickened over the back of the second last after he winged that. I could see Harry was sat in front just waiting.

“The plan is to go to the Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day then come back here for the Kingwell after Christmas. When they start improving, you don’t know where they will end up and the Christmas Hurdle will give us a marker where we are.

“Someone has got to take Constitution Hill on. We will go there and if we finished second we will be delighted.

“He will be a lovely two-mile chaser next season. We will just pick our races this season with him.”

Knappers Hill impressed over fences at Wincanton
Knappers Hill impressed over fences at Wincanton (Jockey Club)

Knappers Hill proved a fitting winner for the champion trainer as he carried the famous colours of Nicholls’ late landlord and great friend Paul Barber to victory in the Boodles “Rising Stars” Novices’ Chase.

The seven-year-old is now owned by Barber’s sons, Chris and Giles, in partnership with Paul Vogt and last year’s Elite Hurdle winner produced an exceptional display to open his account over fences and score on the card for the second year running.

The victory enhanced the trainer’s exceptional record in the race, with Betfair cutting Knappers Hill to 20-1 from 33-1 for the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Nicholls said: “It is great that all of Paul’s family are here today. Paul would have been proud of that. He has been so good to me, and I’ve missed him a lot this year. He left a big hole in my life. This has been the target, to try to win this.

“I’m a bit emotional really as Paul would have loved that. He loved that horse as well. He went to see him every day. To see him win in his colours, he would have absolutely loved that. That was brilliant.

“We purchased him together at the Goffs Land Rover (stores) sale and he has just never stopped winning. He will run in Paul’s colours this season which is brilliant. The boys will love this.”

Nicholls suggested Newbury’s Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase on December 1 as a possible next port of call.

The Ditcheat handler got on the scoreboard in the very first race when Meatloaf took the EBF Stallions “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle in taking fashion.

A bumper winner at the track in the spring, this was the perfect hurdling bow and his handler believes he could be a Grade One operator before the season ends.

Nicholls said: ““He is a smart horse and I like him a lot. He won two races last season, and he was not beaten not far at Cheltenham (on New Year’s Day). He will get better with experience.

“He is sharp and two miles is fine for him. He might even progress to run at Aintree in that Grade One (Formby Novices’ Hurdle on Boxing Day).”

Nicholls’ afternoon got even better in the Boodles Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase when Huelgoat wore down 3-1 favourite Enjoy Your Life.

It continued a fine weekend for conditional rider Freddie Gingell, who won Friday’s Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, and the champion trainer was eager to praise the young jockey.

He said: “He was on the floor at the cross fence, but it ended up being a good result. Freddie gave him a super ride. I’ve sort of aimed him at this race.”

Nicholls was denied a five-timer when Fergal O’Brien’s 7-2 favourite Horaces Pearl edged out Ditcheat’s Roman Roy in the concluding Join The Harry Fry Racing Syndicate Open National Hunt Flat Race, while Anthony Honeyball supplemented his victory in the feature Badger Beer Chase by claiming the JenningsBet Richard Barber Memorial Mares’ Handicap Hurdle with 18-1 shot Good Luck Charm.



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Knappers Hill delivers dominant victory at Wincanton

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Knappers Hill got off the mark over fences with an exceptional display in the Boodles “Rising Stars” Novices’ Chase at Wincanton.

A winner of the Elite Hurdle on the card 12 months ago, the seven-year-old suffered defeat on his chasing bow at Chepstow but took a huge step forward at the Somerset track, producing a foot-perfect round of jumping in the hands of Harry Cobden.

It enhanced trainer Paul Nicholls’ exceptional record in the race, with Betfair cutting Knappers Hill to 20-1 from 33-1 for the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Knappers Hill was sporting the famous colours of Paul Barber, Nicholls’ late landlord and close friend whose two sons, Chris and Giles, now own the gelding in partnership with Paul Vogt.

Nicholls said: “It is great that all of Paul’s family are here today. Paul would have been proud of that. He has been so good to me, and I’ve missed him a lot this year. He left a big hole in my life. This has been the target, to try to win this.

“I’m a bit emotional really as Paul would have loved that. He loved that horse as well. He went to see him every day. To see him win in his colours, he would have absolutely loved that. That was brilliant.

“We purchased him together at the Goffs Land Rover (stores) sale and he has just never stopped winning. He will run in Paul’s colours this season which is brilliant. The boys will love this.”

Nicholls suggested Newbury’s Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase on December 1 as a possible next port of call.

The Ditcheat handler got on the scoreboard in the very first race when Meatloaf took the EBF Stallions “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle in taking fashion.

A bumper winner at the track in the spring, this was the perfect hurdling bow and his handler believes he could be a Grade One operator before the season ends.

Nicholls said: ““He is a smart horse and I like him a lot. He won two races last season, and he was not beaten not far at Cheltenham (on New Year’s Day). He will get better with experience.

“He is sharp and two miles is fine for him. He might even progress to run at Aintree in that Grade One (Formby Novices’ Hurdle on Boxing Day).”

Nicholls’ afternoon got even better in the Boodles Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase when Huelgoat wore down 3-1 favourite Enjoy Your Life.

It continued a fine weekend for conditional rider Freddie Gingell, who won Friday’s Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, and the champion trainer was eager to praise the young jockey.

He said: “He was on the floor at the cross fence, but it ended up being a good result. Freddie gave him a super ride. I’ve sort of aimed him at this race.

“It was just a matter of him jumping well enough, which he did, bar one mistake at the cross fence which he did well to recover from. Freddie is improving rapidly and he is a good lad.”



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Select performance sees Knappers Hill on top

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Knappers Hill spoiled the Tom O’Brien farewell as Paul Nicholls’ charge landed the bet365 Select Hurdle at Sandown.

O’Brien, who had announced he was hanging up his riding boots after a stellar career with trainer Philip Hobbs, looked to have a solid chance aboard Thyme Hill, who on official ratings had 10lb in hand on his rivals as he switched disciplines following a modest run in the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival.

And O’Brien looked well-poised as he tracked the sedate pace set by the mare Theatre Glory in the extended two-mile-five-furlong affair.

However, there was to be no fairytale farewell for O’Brien, as the race turned into something of a sprint.

O’Brien and Thyme Hill were tight for room and tapped for toe at the second-last, where Knappers Hill and Bryony Frost picked up well, having initially sat at the back of the quintet.

Frost, replacing Harry Cobden, who stood himself down following a fall earlier in the afternoon, seized her chance, with the seven-year-old, winner of the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton in November, picking up in great style.

Knappers Hill (11-2) stayed on well up the hill after the last and just had enough to repel the late thrust of Goshen, who had to be switched to challenge.

Gary Moore’s runner, who was a neck behind, could be considered somewhat unlucky not to record a third course success. O’Brien bowed out with a third-place finish.

Celebrating a winner on the day he was officially crowned champion for the 14th time, Nicholls said: “We were a bit worried about the ground and we were in one mind whether to run him or not, because the only time he’s been disappointing was here in the EBF Final on soft ground.

“We rode him different today and just took our time, I said to Bryony to let him creep into things and hope they don’t go too quick and see if he gets the trip and he did. He’ll go chasing next year, he’ll be a nice type for things like the Rising Stars at Wincanton so we’re looking forward to that now.”

Frost added: “We just took our time. He’s got so much ability and it was very easy. We cruised through in a little field and I enjoyed every moment of his jumping.

“Turning in the speed we hit was awesome, he’s a quality horse and he’s going to make some chaser next year. I couldn’t believe it was going our way, it’s probably the first race all day that has. It’s fantastic for the owners and this crowd is great.”



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Nicholls anticipating Knappers Hill redemption at Wincanton

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Paul Nicholls expects Knappers Hill is to thrive dropped back in trip for the Jennings Bet Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.

The seven-year-old is unbeaten in two starts at the track, taking a novice hurdle in 2021 and then landing the Grade Two Elite Hurdle from Sceau Royal in November over the same near two-mile trip he faces here.

Knappers Hill was last seen finishing fourth in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham, tackling an extended two and a half miles on testing ground on New Year’s Day.

Believing the trip and the conditions to have been unsuitable, Nicholls is confident the bay can return to winning ways with more in his favour at Wincanton.

He said: “He’s got a nice chance. There is a chaser switching (Global Citizen) that will want good ground and they’ll have been waiting for this time of year with them.

Knappers Hill
Knappers Hill (right) (David Davies/PA)

“Racing is very competitive at the moment, it’s hard to get those winners but we would like to run well in the big races this weekend with Pic D’Orhy (at Ascot) and Knappers Hill.”

The trainer added: “He’s taken giant strides over the past 18 months and has now won nine of his 13 starts for us, including the Elite Hurdle over this trip and track on Bonfire Night.

“He didn’t quite get home at Cheltenham over two and a half miles on soft ground.

“That has happened before and he will be much happier back at two miles on nice ground. This race should be right up his street.”

Knappers Hill will face just three rivals including Nicky Henderson’s First Street, who finished third in the Relkeel, some eight lengths in front.

Nigel Twiston-Davies is represented by I Like To Move It, the aforementioned Grand Annual winner Global Citizen switches back to hurdles for Ben Pauling.



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