Tag Archive for: Complete Unknown

Nicholls and Cobden hit Kempton double

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Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden added to an already successful week as Outlaw Peter initiated a Kempton double in the Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle.

The Ditcheat team enjoyed dual Grade One success at the Cheltenham Festival with Stage Star and Stay Away Fay, while Bravesmansgame put up a strong challenge to Galopin Des Champs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup before having to settle for second.

While Nicholls admits Outlaw Peter would not be of that calibre, he was pleased to see the 3-1 favourite on the mark at the Sunbury track.

A winner at Wincanton last time out, the gelding took a another two-mile-five-furlong hurdle with a positive, prominent run to score by two and three-quarter lengths.

“I was a bit worried about the ground, having rained, because he pulled up in the Lanzarote but most of them did that day,” Nicholls said.

“Today was a slightly easier race, not so competitive, and he was able to dominate and just fill his lungs all the time. It was never in doubt really.

“He could go to Aintree or Ayr, or even a novice hurdle at Cheltenham at the April meeting. We’ll find one more run for him somewhere then he’ll go novice chasing in the autumn.

“Harry just said he’ll be some chaser. He’s quite versatile, he’ll win over two (miles) and a half on soft, he’ll go three miles on better ground.

“I shouldn’t think he’ll be a Grade One horse but he’ll win loads of races.”

Complete Unknown, pictured at Sandown last year
Complete Unknown, pictured at Sandown last year (Steven Paston/PA)

Complete Unknown was a decisive winner of the Virgin Bet Fives Handicap Chase, completing the Nicholls-Cobden brace.

A consistent type, the gelding was last seen finishing second the Hampton Novices’ Chase at Warwick when beaten 13 lengths by Galia Des Liteaux.

That contest was over three miles on heavy ground, but at Kempton he stepped down in trip to just over two and a half miles on a good to soft surface.

Whilst prevailing by an unchallenged 16 lengths from Fergal O’Brien’s Silver Hallmark, Cobden believes the horse will ultimately make a staying chaser and a candidate for the longest distance contests.

He said: “He’s a lovely horse, very progressive.

“He’s one of those horses I could just see next year running in a Welsh National with those good staying chasers.

“This time next year he might go to Uttoxeter for the Midlands National, something like that. He loves soft ground as well, which is the key to him.

“He could be a graded horse but I think he’s just a very good handicapper, if I was going to put my money on it.

“I think he just lacks that gear, he doesn’t quite have that class to travel through in a graded race. On a bit of good ground, he’d always be doing a bit too much.

“He’ll earn some nice pots in his time anyway,” he told Racing TV.

Lorcan Williams has plenty to look forward to on big day at Warwick

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Lorcan Williams has two leading Grade Two chances at Warwick on Saturday as he will take the rides on both Complete Unknown and Knowsley Road.

Both horses are trained by Paul Nicholls, for whom Williams works, and are at the head of the market for their respective races.

In the eventmasters.co.uk Hampton Novices’ Chase, Williams will ride Complete Unknown, a seven-year-old who made his chasing debut at Ffos Las under Harry Cobden in late December and secured a neat victory with a fluent round of jumping on soft ground.

The success was a third career win Complete Unknown, whose last triumph was in the EBF Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown in March with Williams in the saddle. The pair reunite at Warwick, as Williams’ mount steps back up to three miles on ground that will be testing.

“He looked like he’d taken to jumping fences well last time at Ffos Las, having come with a late run. Harry Cobden gave him a great ride,” Williams said of the horse’s latest outing.

“Three miles is only a positive, he’s a horse that relishes difficult conditions like heavy ground. It was soft at Ffos Las over two-miles-five the last day and he did his best work late on.

“He’ll love the ground and there’s only really positives to come from that Ffos Las run. I’ve ridden him in the past and I’m looking forward to getting back on him.”

The contest has only attracted a field of four, with Dan Skelton’s Galia Des Liteaux looking to bounce back after being pulled up in Grade One company at Kempton Park on Boxing Day and Gordon Elliott’s The Goffer making the trip over from Ireland.

“The horse of Dan Skelton’s didn’t jump too well last time out and underperformed, but Complete Unknown has beaten her before over hurdles around Ascot,” Williams said.

“Gordon Elliott’s runner is a bit interesting, he’s had three runs over fences so he’s the experienced runner in the field.

“Complete Unknown has got every chance, he’s a talented horse and if he puts it all together he should be the one to beat.”

Williams has then got a second enviable ride in the Ballymore Leamington Novices’ Hurdle, with Knowsley Road looking to maintain his unbeaten record over timber.

The six-year-old was the runner-up on his bumper debut and then won next time out on the level, both times under Williams, after which he graduated to hurdling at the start of the season.

Winning his first start under Cobden, the bay then defied a penalty to prevail again when Williams took the ride in a Chepstow novice in December.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have ridden Knowsley a few times in his career, he’s a very talented young horse,” he said.

“I have always thought a lot of him and he probably shouldn’t have been beaten in first time out in his bumper at Exeter but we were still learning a bit about him.

“The bumper wasn’t the be all and end all as you can see, he’s two from two over hurdles and two-miles-five around Warwick should really suit him.

“He’s a lovely, big scopey horse and I don’t see him having any problems in the conditions.

“He seems to have taken his races well and only seems to be wanting further. He’s stepping up (in trip) and Paul’s had this plan with him for a long time.

“When I rode him the last day he was only idling in front, he was hanging to the left but only through greenness. He’s a lovely horse who I think a lot of and if he turns up on the day he should also be the one to beat.”

:: The Wigley Group Classic Chase Day this Saturday is celebrating 50 years of the Classic Chase. To find your local raceday visit tp://www.greatbritishracing.com/fixtures