After recently coming out of retirement, Henrietta Knight has declared her first two horses in 11 years on Friday at Wincanton in what is set to be a special day for the 77-year-old.
Henrietta Knight Has Two Wincanton Runners On Friday
It was back in 2012 that the legendary horse racing trainer Knight decided to retire, but she announced in November 2023 that she would return to training with Brendan Powell as her assistant. Powell has spent the last five seasons assisting Joseph O’Brien in County Kilkenny, but will now join forces with Knight.
Having had a winner with her first ever runner back in 1989 at Bangor-on-Dee, the Oxfordshire-based trainer will hope for similar success on the second coming of her handling career. She made the decision to stop in 2012 to care and look after her late husband Terry Biddlecombe, but is back for more.
During her first spell as a trainer, Knight saddled three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Best Mate and in 2004 the horse became the first to win the race three times since Arkle in 1966 (see below). Other memorable moments include Edredon Bleu’s victory in the 2000 Queen Mother Champion Chase.
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Henrietta Knight Wincanton Runners
James Bowen has been booked to ride Zettabyte in the 2m4f handicap hurdle (1:30) at Wincanton, a recruit from the Gordon Elliott stable. The seven-year-old is still a maiden but produced a career best when showing promise with a runner-up effort at Downpatrick back in October.
He was pulled up when seen last in November at Fairyhouse after making a mistake but could run a good race on stable debut here back down in trip.
The second and final runner declared at Wincanton is Ballywalter in the 3m½f maiden hurdle (3:00). He makes his first start under rules after winning a heavy ground point-to-point at Tattersalls Farm for James Lambe back in October, so could be worth siding with if conditions are right on the day.
Major Wins For Henrietta Knight
- Cheltenham Gold Cup – Best Mate (2002, 2003, 2004)
- Clarence House Chase – Somersby (2012)
- Clonmel Oil Chase – Edredon Bleu (2003)
- Dipper Novices’ Chase – Calgary Bay (2009)
- Glenlivet Hurdle – Stompin (1996)
- Grand Annual Chase – Edredon Bleu (1998)
- King George VI Chase – Best Mate (2002), Edredon Bleu (2003)
- Lanzarote Hurdle – Heart (2000)
- Lexus Chase – Best Mate (2003)
- Mersey Novices’ Hurdle – Best Mate (2000)
- Peterborough Chase – Edredon Bleu (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001), Best Mate (2002), Impek (2005), Racing Demon (2006, 2007)
- Queen Mother Champion Chase – Edredon Bleu (2000)
- Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase – Best Mate (2001)
- Stayers Hurdle – Karshi (1997)
- Sun Alliance Chase – Lord Noelie (2000)
- Victor Chandler Chase – Somersby (2012)
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