Is 'thorough professional' Knight Salute the most underrated horse in training?

Saturday: 1.50 Kempton
Coral Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m | 4yo | ITV/RTV

Underrated horses are something of a touchy subject. Runners are usually given this tag because they are popular, with a loyal following who believe their favourite is undersold.

All of which means there is emotion involved and maybe I'm guilty here, but surely the most underrated horse in Britain and Ireland this season is the unbeaten juvenile Knight Salute.

I've lost count of how many times I've thrown his name into the mix for the Triumph Hurdle only to be laughed at by people telling me he won't get close to the Irish. Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott are masters and, when all is said and done, who is Milton Harris to have a say?

All of this misses the point that Knight Salute's form has passed every test and, when he won at Doncaster last time he ran the last two furlongs 0.77secs more quickly (three and a half lengths) than Champion Hurdle hope Tommy's Oscar on the same card, albeit in a slower overall time.

The horses Knight Salute beat that day aren't too shabby either. Porticello has won twice since, including a Grade 1 by more than eight lengths, and the reopposing third Impulsive One bolted up without coming off the bridle in a Listed hurdle at Musselburgh this month.

And what about Knight Salute's trainer? Harris has yet to do it on the big stage, but he had an 18 per cent strike-rate last year and has already upped that to 21 per cent since the turn of the year.

Elliott fans can put that in their pipe and smoke it because the Irish maestro was only 18 per cent himself in 2021 and has been operating at just 14 per cent since the start of this year.

There will still be a few who get hung up on the big boys and back Paul Nicholls to strike with classy Flat horse Pleasant Man, but don't be one of them. Knight Salute is a gritty, determined character in the mould of the man who trains him and the Triumph will be next.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

'I was not surprised he ran well'

It is a big day at Kempton for Moka De Vassy in the juvenile feature, and also his family as his older half-brother Moriko De Vassy then takes his chance in the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices' Hurdle.

Jane Williams was not surprised by how her four-year-old Moka De Vassy fared when following home the classy Pied Piper at Cheltenham last time when he was sent off at 50-1.

She said: "He ran into a smart type in Pied Piper last time but I was not surprised he ran well despite being sent off at 50-1. He's got a nice attitude and wants to win and I expect him to run well again."

As to his relative Moriko De Vassy, who runs later on for Tom Symonds, Williams added: "It could be a big day all round for the family and it's quite nice as Moriko De Vassy is owned by a few friends of mine and looks to have a fair chance."

What they say

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Impulsive One
He's been plenty useful, but the likes of Musselburgh and Kempton are what he wants and where he belongs – sharp, good-ground tracks. He was very impressive last time at Musselburgh and the plan has always been Adonis and then Aintree.

Milton Harris, trainer of Knight Salute
He is a thorough professional, typical of good horses I've had over the years. He doesn't do that much at home. He works fine, adequately, but he worked really well on Tuesday, which surprised me. We've won two Grade 2s and we want a Grade 1 but this, in theory, is an easier opportunity for him than the Triumph and the track will suit. He's straightforward and unless something is wrong that we can't see you'd be surprised if he's not ultra-competitive.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Pleasant Man and Rubaud
There's not a lot between them at home. We're putting our toe in the water to see where we are with them. I've done it before with horses and they can go forward to better things or else you keep them a maiden for next season. They've both done lots of schooling and lots of work so, while they lack a bit of experience, it will be interesting to see how they run.

Gary Moore, trainer of Teddy Blue
He got stuck in the mud on his first start over hurdles at Lingfield and will enjoy the better surface. It's a better race obviously but he’s a horse we like a lot.
Reporting by David Milnes

Saturday's race previews:

2.05 Lingfield: 'He's shown the old spark' – Lord North takes on Alenquer in Winter Derby

2.25 Kempton: 'A flatter track will suit' – Paul Nicholls confident Pic D'Orhy can bounce back

3.00 Kempton: hot favourite Shallwehaveonemore needs to up his game says Gary Moore

3.15 Newcastle: trainer quotes and expert insight for the Eider Chase

3.37 Kempton: 'He's turned a corner' – Christian Williams chases big prize with three chances

4.18 Fairyhouse: last year's Grand National third and fourth go head-to-head in Bobbyjo Chase

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