Knappers Hill received off the mark over fences with an distinctive show within the Boodles “Rising Stars” Novices’ Chase at Wincanton.
A winner of the Elite Hurdle on the cardboard 12 months in the past, the seven-year-old suffered defeat on his chasing bow at Chepstow however took an enormous step ahead on the Somerset observe, producing a foot-perfect spherical of leaping within the fingers of Harry Cobden.
It enhanced coach Paul Nicholls’ distinctive report within the race, with Betfair chopping Knappers Hill to 20-1 from 33-1 for the Turners Novices’ Chase on the Cheltenham Competition.
Knappers Hill was sporting the well-known colors of Paul Barber, Nicholls’ late landlord and shut good friend whose two sons, Chris and Giles, now personal the gelding in partnership with Paul Vogt.
Nicholls mentioned: “It’s nice that each one of Paul’s household are right here at this time. Paul would have been happy with that. He has been so good to me, and I’ve missed him quite a bit this yr. He left an enormous gap in my life. This has been the goal, to attempt to win this.
“I am a bit emotional actually as Paul would have beloved that. He beloved that horse as effectively. He went to see him day-after-day. To see him win in his colors, he would have completely beloved that. That was sensible.
“We bought him collectively on the Goffs Land Rover [stores] sale and he has simply by no means stopped profitable. He’ll run in Paul’s colors this season which is sensible. The boys will love this.”
Nicholls recommended Newbury’s Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase on December 1 as a potential subsequent port of name.
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