KNOCKNAMONA 29 May 2011 Trans Island-Faraday Lady Owner-The Rat Pack Racing Club
The current flag bearer of The Rat Pack Racing Club, Knocknamona has won 6 times for his enthusiastic owners, and was just running back in to form before the enforced shut down. Knocknamaona started his racing career in the Irish Point to Point field as a 4 year old, in the hands of trainer Eugene O'Sullivan, he ran 6 times, coming closest to winning on his final start, when going down by a neck.
He made his debut for us in November, 2016 in a novice hurdle at Carlisle, but struggled to find any worthwhile form, even with a generous looking handicap mark of eighty four at the 7th attempt, he still couldn't get competitive. Things finally did come right at Newcastle in March, 2017, from a new, low mark of eighty he came home 2 lengths in front under Joe Colliver, this was his first run for us in very heavy ground, and it definitely suited.From the same mark of eighty, on soft ground at Hexham 9 days later, when going off at 5/4, he ran a respectable 2nd, with the race possibly coming a shade too soon.He ran twice more that season, but a long campaign without a break had taken it's toll, and he was given a break until September.
He was slow to come to hand on his return, a hurdle, and then his first 2 chases under rules, but in November he struck form with a vengeance on his favoured heavy ground, winning 4 times in a row, in just over 8 weeks. Some clever placing saw him win 2 hurdles and 2 chases, taking his mark from 83 to 103. On the better ground in March he failed to get competitive, and he was given his Summer holiday.
After a race to put him straight on his return in October, 2018 he was placed twice, running right up to his best, but being anchored by his handicap mark. In February, 2019 over fences at Carlisle, he was looking held 3 out, but they had gone hard up front, and to jockey Alain Cawley's never say die ride, Knocknamona responded to his urging, picking them off one by one, and coming home 8 lengths clear. After that the ground went against him again, and the handicapper has been slow to drop him, but there have been signs he was running in to form again, and hopes were high at Catterick when last seen on January 31st this year, but unfortunately he was badly hampered at the first and brought down.
Knocknamona has already given The Rat Pack many memorable days, and still beingl only 9 years old, there is still plenty to come.