Knicks is expected to travel to Epsom on Derby day after a tenacious front-running victory with a strong lead on the first afternoon of the Boodles May Festival at Chester.
The three-year-old finished his juvenile campaign for Karl Burke with a win at Nottingham in September. David Easterby then purchased the youngster for 26,000 guineas, and he made a respectable debut for his new connections by finishing runner-up at Catterick last month.
In the tote, the 11-1 shot performed one better under a daring ride from Joanna Mason, Saddle-Up For More Than Racing Handicap dug deep to win over Vince L'Amour by a neck.
Easterby, who trains Knicks in partnership with his father Mick, said: “As Jonna just said, it wasn’t the plan (to make the running), I didn’t give her any instructions, we just wanted to see what the drop back to five furlongs would do and it seems to have worked. Epsom next, that’s the plan, for the three-year-old only Dash on Derby day. He showed a lot of early boot there today, so I don’t need to make him go any quicker!”
Richard Fahey's 20-1 shot In the first CAA Stellar Handicap, Garfield Shadow finished with gusto, extending his unblemished record to three.
A winner at the conclusion of his juvenile season last year at Hamilton and Newcastle, the James Garfield colt had to overcome a wide draw in stall 13 when he made his reappearance, but in the hands of David Nolan, he surged home against the far rail to deny 7-2 favourite Al Shabab Storm by a hair.
“He’s a grand horse, he’s three from three now and he’s got plenty of ability. We had a bit to do from stall 13, but they went a nice gallop and I had a smooth drop down to the fence,” said Nolan. “They went at a nice tempo and wherever I wanted to go, there was a gap, but you need a bit of horse to take them and I had plenty. All he can do is win, he’s been impressive in his three starts and he can improve again, I’d say.”