Knight set for winter break

Blythe Knight, second behind the impressive De Soto at Kempton on Boxing Day, is to have a short break until the spring.

Malton trainer John Quinn bought the six-year-old out of Ed Dunlop’s yard and won the Lincoln Handicap with him on his first start for new connections.

He disappointed at Uttoxeter since winning on his hurdling debut at Bangor but bounced back with a creditable performance in one of the hottest novices’ hurdle races of the season.

“I was delighted with Blythe Knight at Kempton the other day,” said Quinn.

“Poor old Blythe Knight, since he won the Lincoln on his first start for us he has only run one poor race and that was at Royal Ascot (the Royal Hunt Cup).

“Since then he has been placed in two Heritage Handicaps and won first time out over hurdles.

“He then got beat next time but that was my fault for running him on bottomless ground at Uttoxeter. Some people were saying he is a bit this and a bit that but I wouldn’t mind a few more like him.

“He is on his holidays now but he will be entered in the Lincoln, the Winter Derby, Cheltenham, Liverpool and Punchestown,” Quinn told Racing UK.