As a staunch fan of National Hunt racing, I am automatically sceptical of people who don't like Cheltenham; in my opinion, the Cheltenham Festival is one of the greatest sporting events of the year and certainly the best racing can offer. Rightly or wrongly, I am suspicious of people who think that they can find a more productive use of their time than counting down the days to an often expensive and frustrating week in March.
While it is an unforgivable trait in a human, it is far easier to understand why certain horses don't take a liking to Cheltenham, with many a horse having been unsuited to the undulations of the course in the past. Knight Pass is one such horse that doesn't share an affinity with Cheltenham, running well below par on each of the four occasions he has turned up at Prestbury Park. His record away from the course, however, is fairly convincing, beaten only once in five starts, finishing third to the useful Tetlami at Sandown when finding the race an insufficient test of stamina. Fortunately then, from a punting perspective, the David Pipe-trained gelding didn't take up an engagement at last week's Cheltenham Open meeting and instead seems set to take his chance in the valuable Betfair Fixed Brush Hurdle at Haydock on Saturday.
Knight Pass is one of three possible contenders from the Pipe yard and, having saddled Grands Crus and Dynaste to take the last two renewals, it makes sense to start by focussing on his runners. Knight Pass, formerly trained by Warren Greatrex, is arguably the most interesting, his aforementioned record away from Cheltenham combined with the potential for further improvement over three miles making him stand out. Unraced beyond 21 furlongs, there is every chance Knight Pass, who hails from the same family as Gold Cup-placed Harbour Pilot and Grand National winner Monty's Pass, will thrive as his stamina becomes fully tested and, if that's the case, he could prove hard to beat racing off a mark only 7 lb higher than when successful at Kempton on Boxing Day. Also, and this is intended as no slight on Greatrex, it would be rather surprising were a trainer of David Pipe's calibre incapable of conjuring some improvement.
There are undoubted negatives, his latest three efforts hardly inspiring much confidence, particularly as he looked rather quirky on more than one occasion, but I believe it is worth striking a line through his Cheltenham efforts as he simply seems incapable of reproducing his form at that venue. He could potentially be thrown in on his first start for his new yard and he makes great appeal at a fixed odds price of 8/1 with Betfair.
It is clear that I have made up my mind about who I think will land the Betfair Fixed Brush Hurdle, but, for those of you unwilling to forgive Knight Pass's poor form at the end of last season, it is worth mentioning some other interesting runners.
Katkeau, also hailing from the Pipe yard, boasts an interesting profile and currently tops the ante-post market, trading at 5/1. Unraced outside of France, it is difficult to accurately gauge the merit of his fifteen-length triumph at Auteuil in June, but he handles soft ground and could potentially be miles ahead of the handicapper, so he would certainly be an interesting participant if allowed to compete. However, he also holds an entry in a race over two and a half miles earlier on the card and that is enough to put me off an ante-post investment.
The final possible contender from the Pipe yard is Poole Master, three times a winner in novice company last season. Although well beaten on his handicap bow in the Coral Cup, Poole Master shaped better than the bare result would imply, travelling strongly towards the fore before fading in the closing stages. He fell when held on his only subsequent start at Aintree in April, but he isn't one to rule out on his seasonal return such was the promise of a couple of his efforts last term.
Not that you would know it from reading this preview, but other trainers beyond David Pipe are intending to run their horses on Saturday, with Holywell looking like an interesting contender for Jonjo O'Neill. Unexposed having had only four runs over hurdles, Holywell shaped very well on heavy ground at Aintree last time, coming home strongly to finish second having been patiently ridden and left with plenty to do. He is clearly open to further progress and it is difficult to find too many negatives, but he might simply be up against a couple of rivals with more in hand of the assessor than himself.
Sivola de Sivola appeals as the sort of horse that could be well handicapped, but he has sometimes looked a little bit lazy, his latest effort at Cheltenham being a case in point, running on strongly in the closing stages having come off the bridle a long way out. He would become of greater interest for Saturday's assignment were he fitted with headgear as it could potentially sweeten him up.
Bear's Affair and Cedre Bleu hail from top yards, representing Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls respectively, and they are by no means fully exposed, particularly over three miles. Bear's Affair didn't really take to chasing as anticipated, but he has won all three starts over hurdles and wouldn't be without a chance if the Fixed Brush Hurdles don't prove to be an inconvenience. The fact Cedre Bleu has been a rare visitor to the course might suggest that he isn't the easiest to train, so he may be the type best caught fresh, as he will be on Saturday on his seasonal return.
Plenty can be given a chance in what looks like a competitive affair on paper, but David Pipe has turned the last two renewals into a procession and can do so again with Knight Pass, an interesting recruit from Warren Greatrex who should be well served by the return to a flat track and a step up in trip.
Recommendation:
Back Knight Pass at 8/19.00 to win the Betfair Fixed Brush Hurdle
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