Knight riding high for Cotswold test
Philip Hobbs believes One Knight has a “decent” chance of making a triumphant return to Wincanton, the scene of his debut bumper success in November 2000.
The 10-year-old faces only four rivals, including Ollie Magern and Royal Auclair, in a disappointing turn-out for the rearranged HBLB Cotswold Chase at the West Country track.
Injury has restricted One Knight to just three runs since winning the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham three years ago, but showed he had lost none of his ability with a brave effort in the Coral Welsh National.
Having made most of the running, he fell at the final fence when in second place behind eventual winner L’Aventure at Chepstow in December.
Hobbs said: “I imagine Ollie Magern will make the running. Obviously there are some decent horses in there but I think we’ve got a decent chance.
“He won the SunAlliance on good ground so I can’t see it being detrimental, but softer ground would not have been a worry.”
Of tomorrow’s quintet, Ollie Magern, One Knight and Royal Auclair were in the original race lost to the frost at Cheltenham n Saturday.
Ollie Magern, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, bids to get his totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup bid on track after two sound defeats which followed a convincing win in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby on his seasonal debut.
Twiston-Davies hopes for a prominent showing from the eight-year-old in the Grade Two contest.
“He ran well for a long way at Sandown (in the King George VI Chase) and the ground just took its toll in the final half mile,” said the Naunton handler.
“We obviously would have preferred the race to have taken place at Cheltenham, but we had to go somewhere.
“There was a chance we could have taken him to Newbury (for the AON Chase) but if it doesn’t rain before then, the ground might be a bit firm. Wincanton is a very tight track but he has won right-handed before.
“I just would have preferred the race to have taken place at a track like Cheltenham, Haydock or Newbury.
“The horse is well though and we hope he comes back fine so we can aim for Cheltenham with him.”
Paul Nicholls reported last season’s Gold Cup fourth and Grand National runner-up Royal Auclair to be in fine form.
“He loves it round there,” the Ditcheat handler told Teletext.
“I know he’s good left-handed but he’s won round Wincanton before when he won the Badger Ales Trophy 18 months ago.
“The ground will suit him and he’s in good nick. I walked round Wincanton yesterday and the ground will be suitable for him.”
The Seamus Mullins-trained See You Sometime – the only runner not entered in the Gold Cup – and Peter Bowen’s Ballycassidy complete the line-up.
