Global Citizen is returning after a 126-day break, where we saw him pulled up in a handicap chase at Worcester in September last year.
He’s an experienced horse, both hurdling and chasing but his form has been very inconsistent over the last couple of years.
His last hurdling success came in January 2019, where he won a Grade Two at Haydock ahead of Silver Streak. His best days seem to be in the past so it is difficult to see how he wins here against top company.
Six-year-old gelding who makes his second step into graded company here, following a third-placed finish in the Grade Two Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, where he finished behind Dashel Drasher and the winner Marie’s Rock.
That was a top maiden effort in graded company against Marie’s Rock in particular, with the mare having tasted Grade One success so far in her career.
He finished first in a handicap hurdle contest at Newbury in November before that run and looks set to do well here for Nicky Henderson.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22/10/23 | KEM | 16 | Gd | 11-6 | 3 |
| 22/04/23 | AYR | 16 | Gd | 11-12 | 8 |
| 17/03/23 | CHL | 17 | Sft | 11-11 | 11 |
| 18/02/23 | WCN | 15 | Gd | 11-8 | 3 |
| 01/01/23 | CHL | 20.5 | Sft | 11-4 | 3 |
Knappers Hill finished behind First Street in that Grade Two hurdle outing at Cheltenham which followed his win at Wincanton in November, where he beat 11/8 joint favourite Sceau Royal, Knight Salute and Milkwood to win the Grade Two Unibet Elite Hurdle by two and a half lengths.
Harry Cobden took the reins that day and also in the fourth placed finish at Cheltenham but Bryony Frost is booked to ride here, looking to get his revenge on market rival First Street.
That fourth placed finish followed a run of four victories in a row for Knappers Hill, so it should be an interesting contest between the two runners at the top of the market.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14/10/23 | CHP | 19.5 | Sft | 11-5 | 2 |
| 29/04/23 | SAN | 21.5 | Sft | 11-10 | 1 |
| 26/02/23 | FON | 19 | Gd | 11-10 | 3 |
| 18/02/23 | WCN | 15 | Gd | 11-10 | 2 |
| 01/01/23 | CHL | 20.5 | Sft | 11-6 | 4 |
The third of the runners who took part at Cheltenham 48 days ago, I Like To Move It finished a disappointing sixth of nine at 3/1f, a long way behind winner Marie’s Rock (11/2).
His early hurdling career provided lots of promise, winning three times in a row before finishing last of five behind winner Jonbon in the Grade Two Howden Kennel Gate Novices’ Hurdle in December 2021.
It hasn’t been plain sailing since, with a win at Cheltenham last November sandwiching his last run and an 18th placed finish in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last March, where Grade One winner State Man romped home.
