Knight On Champion Trail

Blythe Knight is on target to return to action in the Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton on February 16.

John Quinn's eight-year-old, who beat Osana comfortably at Aintree last season, is out to redeem his reputation after a lacklustre showing in the ?Fighting Fifth' at Newcastle.

However, Quinn is convinced his charge, who has also won the Lincoln on the Flat, is a much better horse in the spring.

'He's a huge price for the Champion Hurdle when you consider how easily he beat Osana at Aintree,' said the Malton handler.

'I gave him a full months holiday after he ran at Newcastle and he's back in training now.

'I'm pleased with him. I'm hoping to run him two weeks on Saturday at Wincanton in the Kingwell.

'He's a spring horse. The only time he has ever flopped it has been my mistake because I have gone to the well once or twice too often.

'The bookmakers can discount him, but he'd have the best Flat form in the race so I'm optimistic about him.

'He's a horse that has shown tremendous form all his life in the spring.

'He ran really well all last year up to Epsom in June. Before that he had won at York, Liverpool and a Group race at Epsom.

'It looked a wide-open race before Sunday but admittedly the Irish horse (Sizing Europe) looks very good.'

Blythe Knight can be backed at 25-1 for Champion Hurdle glory.

(C) PA Sport