'That work was sexy' - Knight Salute primed to stake Triumph claims in Adonis

Milton Harris hopes Knight Salute's sparkling piece of work earlier this week will act as a springboard to further success when his stable star finalises his Cheltenham Festival preparations in the Coral Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (1.50) at Kempton on Saturday.

The four-year-old has been the leading light in the resurgent trainer's best season with two Grade 2 victories, including in the Summit Juvenile Hurdle at Doncaster in December, and has only Porticello ahead of him among the British contenders for the Triumph Hurdle, for which he is as short as 12-1.

Given a break following that Doncaster victory, Harris was delighted with Knight Salute's schooling session on Tuesday and is confident he can make a winning return in the Adonis, where he will face ten rivals including Scottish Triumph Hurdle winner Impulsive One.

"That work was sexy," said Harris. "He's a workmanlike horse, which made Tuesday really unusual. His prep has gone really well and we are where we should be going into a competitive race.

"He doesn't appreciate winter soft ground, he's much better on decent ground. Some of these horses haven't had a break, but we've aimed ourselves solely at this. He's the favourite and is running in the right race."

Knight Salute (right) and Impulsive One (left) will clash again at KemptonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Knight Salute beat Porticello at Doncaster before Gary Moore's four-year-old went on to land the Grade 1 Finale Juvenile Hurdle and the Victor Ludorum at Haydock last weekend, but Harris believes his unbeaten hurdler can get the better of that rival again when Cheltenham comes around.

"I'd be surprised if we weren't a sharper horse than Porticello, and Gary would probably agree his one is more of a chasing type," said Harris. "Porticello wants slower ground than we do, but we still beat him despite the conditions – not because of them – at Doncaster.

"We are what price we are, but what matters is if all goes well on Saturday, it'll be off to Cheltenham then Aintree. They're our ultimate goals for the season."

Harris will be represented by Legionar in the Sky Bet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle (3.00) where Shallwehaveonemore, another Moore-trained rival, is the early favourite in a final field of eight.

Legionar will be making his debut over hurdles, but Harris insists he will be better than Knight Salute in time.

He said: "He's the best horse in my yard for the future. The penny hasn't dropped yet, but he's a proper horse."

A field of 14 will contest the £150,000 Coral Trophy Handicap Chase (3.37), while five have been declared for the Pendil Novices' Chase (2.25) including Pic D'Orhy and Minella Drama.

At Newcastle, Classic Chase winner Eclair Surf will bid for another lucrative staying chase prize and heads a field of 17 for the Eider Chase (3.15).

Lingfield set for Winter Derby cracker

A mammoth clash between multiple Group 1 winner Lord North and Royal Ascot hero Alenquer is on after the pair featured among a declared field of eight for the Winter Derby at Lingfield (2.05).

The John and Thady Gosden-trained Lord North will make his comeback having been off since landing the Dubai Turf at Meydan last March, while Alenquer – who also finished second in last year's Juddmonte International – ended his season by finishing ninth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Adonis Juvenile Hurdle final field

1.50 Kempton (Saturday)

Impulsive OneJames Bowen
Knight SalutePaddy Brennan
Big Boy BobbyTom Cannon
GraystoneAidan Coleman
IrokoJonjo O'Neill Jr
Moka De VassyChester Williams
Patient DreamNick Scholfield
Pleasant ManHarry Cobden
RubaudBryony Frost
Teddy BlueJamie Moore
The Famous FiveCharlie Deutsch

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