The Knocknanuss Memorial Maiden

Hurdle

On this card six years ago, Knocknanuss bolted up in the maiden hurdle, a great start to his sadly all too brief career. He won again over hurdles but was born to chase, making his eagerly anticipated debut back here in 2018. His exuberant style got the better of him as, pulling like The Duke Of York in a Pizza Express, he tipped up at the tricky fence down the back.

He then produced a devastating performance at Newbury, making all in the Fulke Walwyn Trophy to win by an eased down 17 lengths Far behind were future graded winners yet, unbelievably, he would never win again.

His owners were starting to lose sleep, a condition that worsened significantly after possibly his best performance in Plumpton’s ’novice chase of the century’. For some reason, French superstar Master Dino also turned up; Knocknanuss led for most of the way, run out of it after the last. Again, future graded winners were beaten out of sight behind.

A controversial fall at the second was scant reward for a trip to the Irish Arkle, followed by a disappointing 5th in the Arkle and at Aintree, when he was over the top for the season He started 2019 with a great performance to push Saint Calvados all the way. He was then finally stepped up in trip, a plan that was going perfectly, as in Cheltenham’s Caspian Caviar Gold Cup, he was still cantering when something went terribly wrong at the tenth fence. He never got back up.

He could have been a superstar; sadly we will never know. Expertly trained by Gary Moore, and ridden with extreme patience and bravery by Jamie, often riding in a bitless bit at home as he pulled so hard. He flickered briefly but brightly, and will always be remembered by his friends