'He's going the right way' - key quotes and analysis for novices' hurdle final

Saturday: 1.50 Sandownbet365 Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle | 2m | 4yo+ | RTV/ITV

Knappers Hill has held the title of 'future star' ever since he won a Grade 2 bumper at last year's Grand National meeting, but the wheels appeared to have fallen off earlier this season.

He won on his first two starts over hurdles without bettering his bumper form and defeats at the hands of Jonbon at Ascot, Glory And Fortune in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, and his stablemate Complete Unknown in the EBF Final here led to questions about whether he is progressing.

Knappers Hill didn't answer those questions when winning a weaker race at Newton Abbot last week after going off 4-9 favourite and his Racing Post Ratings since his last win now read 138, 136, 96 and 132, so he is going the wrong way. However, he did at least win last time and it’s too early to make any firm conclusions. This race should tell us a lot more.

Head Law is going the right way and quickly. His last three RPRs read 109, 118 and 127, so can he find another 9lb of improvement in this better race?

His pedigree suggests it’s possible because two of his half-siblings were rated in the 150s on RPRs and Head Law is still on 127.

The four-year-olds Doctor Parnassus, Hasty Parisian and Privatory get an 8lb weight-for-age allowance and that has been a huge help in the previous three runnings of this race. Juveniles filled two of the first seven places in 2018 and two of the first four last year, including winner Herbiers.

Doctor Parnassus looks the pick of the three following his seventh in the Triumph Hurdle.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

'Knappers Hill is on a tidy mark'

Paul Nicholls often finds the final jump meeting of the season a lucrative affair and could kick off a victory lap for his 13th trainers' title with Knappers Hill, who is out with something to prove in the novices' final.

A strong start to the season was muddied somewhat with a disappointing effort at Sandown in March, but Nicholls is hopeful that a drop back in trip will give the six-year-old room to shine.

"Obviously the soft ground over two and a half miles didn't suit him at Sandown," Nicholls said. "We ran him at Newton Abbot last week to qualify for this race and as long as it's not too quick he's got a great chance. He's got a lovely record on good ground."

Knappers Hill carries topweight in Saturday's opener but will be bolstered by conditions, with the novice scoring on all four starts on good going.

Nicholls added: "I think he's on a tidy mark too off 134, he ran in the Betfair Hurdle and finished sixth off 1lb higher, which was a way more competitive race than this, so hopefully he'll run nicely."

What they say

Jonjo O'Neill, trainer of Head Law
He's going the right way and the ground is good. He'll be there with a chance. Going up 10lb doesn't make it easy but I hope the handicapper is right and he does it again.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Doctor Parnassus and Boombawn
I'm very happy with Doctor Parnassus and Harry has chosen to ride him. He's been one of the higher-ranked juveniles this season and he ran nicely enough in the Triumph without exceeding expectations, but the handicapper has put him up 5lb so they obviously think it was an improved run. Boombawn is no back number, taking 5lb off of him is really helpful and Jack [Andrews, jockey] knows him well.

Richard Newland, trainer of Whizz Kid
We're really looking forward to running him but obviously it looks a very competitive race. I thought he ran very well at Aintree and hopefully he can build on that. If he does, he'll have a definite chance.

Tom Lacey, trainer of Dibble Decker
He's in good form and this is a nice target for him. It's a good prize to go for at the end of the year but he's by no means a definite runner due to the ground. Good will be fine, but they will need to get rid of the firm – I won't be running him for the stake of running him.

Chris Gordon, trainer of Alto Alto and Stanley Pincombe
Alto Alto won his latest start at Plumpton and the form has been franked since. He'll like the ground as well. Stanley Pincombe was a little bit disappointing last time but won the the time before at Warwick and I think he'll enjoy the ground too. It's great to have two in a race like this with great prize-money.
Reporting by Catherine Macrae

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