Selfies were no big deal when Henrietta Knight surrendered her trainer’s license in 2012, but it did provide space for a modern racing celebrity, and in 1945 she was stopped by a few eager fans during her short walk from the paddock to the grandstand at Wincanton. Friday. Then she said, “I still don’t know how to do these things.” “I don’t know anything about these things. When I first started training, I was walking around with a big phone with an antenna. If I had kept it, I could probably sell it for some money.”
It was also a departure from the usual pre-race protocols when the runner’s jockey, James Bowen, gave a large bear hug in the paddock before the race. But on a day when National Hunt racing welcomed back one of the most familiar and popular names of recent years, it felt entirely appropriate.
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Knight was 65 when she announced in May 2012 that she was retiring from training to spend more time with her late husband, Terry Biddlecombe, who died in January 2014. Blue-blooded former boarding school teacher and swashbuckling ex-jockey Knight were the sport’s most familiar celebrity couple at the turn of the century when they trained the remarkable Best Mate to become the first horse since Arkle to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup three times in a row in the mid-1960s.
In the dozen or so years since Somersby secured the last of 14 Grade One winners in the Clarence House Chase in February 2012, Knight has written three books; these included Not Enough Time, a touching memoir of the life she shared with Biddlecombe. Off the track. He also continued a successful pre-training business, preparing young horses for their jumping careers.
But it’s probably fair to say that no one expected Knight to re-apply for his trainer’s license at the age of 77, or to be at Wincanton on a heady January afternoon in 2024 with two runners to his name.
The first, Zettabyte, was even brought up somewhat emotionally by Radio 4’s Today program on Friday morning, despite being a big outsider in the betting, and neither Zettabyte nor Ballywalter, at 28-1, could trouble the judge. Their coach was very happy to be back.
No specific target has been determined yet. “Just to get the first winner,” Knight said. “This season is halfway through and it is difficult to get horses in the middle of the season because they are settled in other stables. [But] “I’m getting a few new owners and getting ready for next year, then we’ll know what we’ve got and then we can set some goals.”
He says the new owners who want to send horses to West Lockinge Farm are from a “younger generation” and his “secretary and right-hand woman” Dawn Graham has warned that “I’m going to have to make a change”. much more in terms of social media. I’m on Instagram. Actually, I can’t do this, but I’m working on it. Dawn was with me when I trained before, so she’s used to my antics.”
But Knight’s approach to training will be the same as always, as its facilities and most of its staff are the same as always.
“I’ve seen enough people’s methods elsewhere, but ultimately every person who trains trains differently,” Knight said, “so we’ve more or less stuck with our old system, because you have to cut your workouts. You dress according to your outfit, and we have our own routine. There are things I’d love to change.” But… it always works and we can go to other places, which is what we often did before, taking the horses and galloping.”
In addition to the staff that has been with him for years, former jockey and trainer Brendan Powell will also play an important role as Knight’s assistant.
“Most of the staff is the same,” he said. “They worked [in the pre-training business] Without an end goal for many years. Now their work has a purpose and they are excited about it.”
Clearly, the coach is in charge. “It was a great welcome,” Knight said after unsaddling Zettabyte. “It’s surprising how many older faces are showing up and they all look a little older. Like I did.”
Collonges can collect the Classics
Venetia Williams’ 30% strikeout rate in November and December has dipped slightly in the first two weeks of 2024, but most of her runners are still acquitting well and Fontaine Collonges (3.00) He could take the stable close to £1 million in prize money for the season in Saturday’s Classic Chase at Warwick.
Fontaine Collonges’s season got off to an inauspicious start when he qualified first in the London National at Sandown, but he made up for it impressively the next day at Wetherby by clearing 14 lengths clear of Rowland Meyrick’s runner-up.
A 7lb boost in the ratings for this convincing achievement seems more than fair, as the form also shows that Fontaine Collonges benefited from a wind operation over the summer. A return to Saturday’s marathon journey could see the nine-year-old lightweight racer, who has just 10 starts over fences on the book, make further progress.
Wetherby 1.10 Colonel Harry He was running strongly in the closing stages of the Grade One Henry VIII Novice Chase at Sandown last time and looks set to certainly appreciate the step up to two and a half miles.
Kempton 1.30 two of them Phlegmatics There are three career wins over fences at this track and Tristan Durrell’s 3lb claim is also positive.
Warwick’s 1.49 Kyntara He is unbeaten in two starts since joining Mel Rowley over the summer and could be poised to complete the hat-trick after gaining 6lb for his latest success.
Kempton 2.07 He ranks fourth out of five in betting, but So long until May He was one of last season’s best recruits and showed further improvement by finishing a strong runner-up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November.
Warwick’s 2.24 Four extremely promising novice hunters in a five-strong field, Gray Dawn was marginally preferred to Apple Away and Broadway Boy. A bad mistake from two out at Cheltenham last time left him with a mountain to climb, but he still finished just shy of the winner and has a significant opportunity to progress further.
Warwick 12.05 Etalon 12.40 Donnacha 1.15 Vicenzo 1.49 Kyntara 2.24 Gray Dawning 3.00 Fontaine Collonges (confectionery) 3.35 Aye Right 4.05 Hartington
Kempton 12.20 Kalif Du Berlais 12.55 Junkanoo 1.30 Phlegmatik 2.07 Notlongtillmay 2.42 Nemean Lion (nb) 3.15 Pepe Le Moko 3.50 Douglas Dc
wetherby 12.35 Jaminoz 1.10 Colonel Harry 1.40 Delgany Bobby Blue 2.15 Mount Tempest 2.50 Benassi 3.25 Lord Of Kerak 3.57 Jasmine Bliss
Chelmsford 4.15 Twistaline 4.45 Post Rider 5.15 Juicy 5.45 Expert Representative 6.15 Young Infinite 6.45 Reducer 7.15 Cavalluccio
Wolverhampton 4.30 Bright 5.00 Desert Raider 5.30 Heet 6.00 Summa Peto 6.30 Not Available 7.00 Basholo 7.30 Street Life 8.00 Trusty Scout 8.30 Come To Pass
Kempton 2.42 Nemean Lion He was just getting involved when a bad mistake second-last on Greatwood at Cheltenham in November took him out of contention.
Warwick’s 3.35 Trustworthy Yes that’s true He hasn’t won since November 2021 but has started to ease the weights a bit, with Dylan Johnston also picking up a useful 7lb.