Controversial owner who had famous win at Cheltenham Festival returns to racing with his first runner in ten years

COLOURFUL owner Anthony Knott, who rose to fame when his horse Hunt Ball went on an amazing winning run, will have his first runner in 10 years on Sunday.

The Dorset dairy farmer has not had any runners since 2013, after he decided to sell Hunt Ball after a falling out with trainer Kieran Burke.

Times Newspapers Ltd

Anthony Knott (second from right) enjoyed huge success with Hunt Ball[/caption]

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The horse rattled up an incredible sequence of seven wins in the 2011-12 season, rising from a handicap mark of 69 to 157 and banking a famous victory at the Cheltenham Festival.

He ended his season finishing third in the Grade 1 Bowl Chase at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.

Knott, 59, was almost as popular as the horse and is one of the most colourful owners in the history of the sport – but he also courted plenty of controversy.

In January 2012 he jumped on Hunt Ball’s back, alongside jockey Nick Scholfield, after he won at Wincanton, and his celebrations after his win at the Cheltenham Festival in 2012 were legendary.

He became known for quipping “bugger the cows!” when asked if he would be up early to milk them the following morning after winning a race.

But he found himself in hot water for his part in painting the Paddy Power logo on Hunt Ball’s backside during the 2013 Festival Plate at Cheltenham, after which trainer Kieran Burke asked him to take the horse out of the yard.

And he was warned off for three years in 2014 for passing on inside information – though his ban was lifted two years later and the offence removed from his record after a review into disciplinary decisions by the BHA.

After a number of years on the sidelines, he has decided to return with Golden Keeper, who runs in the 6.00 at Wolverhampton for trainer Ben Lund.

Knott told the Racing Post: “I’ve known Ben for a long time and thought I’d have another crack at it really.

“Once you’ve been in racing it stays with you always, and I’m getting older so I thought while I can still get around on a racecourse I’d like another go.

“Ben’s just starting out proper and he asked if I would be interested in having a horse with him so I thought why not.

“I only have the one at the moment but I’m keeping my eye out to maybe have another one or two as well.

“I hope we can have a bit of fun. I’d never expect something like Hunt Ball to happen again – he changed my life and was good for everyone in racing – but if I can have some fun and a win at some point that’d be alright, wouldn’t it?”

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