Paul Nicholls has revealed that proficient novice chaser Knappers Hill will miss his large festive goal and might be out for the season having suffered a setback.
The seven-year-old, who was unbeaten as a bumper horse earlier than occurring to attain seven instances as a hurdler, appeared set to take high-rank over fences this season following a completely spectacular victory at Wincanton within the “Rising Stars” Novices’ Chase.
He was as a result of contest the Grade One Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices’ Chase on Boxing Day, however there may be set to be a shuffling of the Ditcheat pack with fellow prime novice operator Hermes Allen poised to skip an meant outing in Ascot’s Noel Novices’ Chase on Friday to fill Knappers Hill’s Kempton emptiness.
“I was going to run Knappers Hill in the Kauto Star, but sadly he’s had a little setback and we might end up missing the rest of the season with him,” Nicholls instructed Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday programme.
“It is solely minor, however I see him probably as a horse who may run within the King George subsequent season, so I believe we have to cease and get him proper.
“I will reroute Hermes Allen to the Kauto Star now somewhat than go to Ascot this week, as a result of I would like to run him in a Grade One, particularly over three miles.
“You play your cards and try to keep them all apart and then something like this happens, so Hermes will almost certainly go to Kempton on Boxing Day.”
