chased leader to after 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
held up behind leaders, smooth headway to lead 2 out, soon clear, readily
led, soon clear, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on, not pace of winner
held up last, headway to join leaders after 6th, ridden after 3 out, 3rd and beaten when blundered 2 out
held up behind leaders, ridden after 3 out, stayed on to go 3rd approaching last, not pace of leaders
Champion Hurdle winner Katchit has been placed in both starts this term but faced no easy task at the weights last time when trying to give 18lbs to Chomba Womba, form which he can reverse here but Alan King's gelding may have to settle for minor honours behind another Henderson runner in BINOCULAR. The four-year-old found just Captain Cee Bee too good in the Supreme Novices' last season prior to his success in the Anniversary Hurdle at Aintree and a comfortable reappearance success at Haydock. Nicky Henderson's gelding has not surprisingly taken a prominent position in the markets for the Champion Hurdle and he is taken to land this on his way to attempting the big one at Cheltenham. Celestial Halo showed progressive form last term and has every chance on the form shown when landing the Triumph Hurdle but he is held by the selection on running at Aintree and looks best watched. Emma Lavelle's Crack Away Jack is closely matched with Chomba Womba on their running here last month and has to be considered but it is Binocular that gets the vote.
Katchit (IRE) 2-1 (11-10) Prominent, shaken up after 5th, ridden 3 out, no impression, 3rd of 5, 9l behind Chomba Womba (10-6) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Nov.
Binocular (FR) 1-9fav (11-6) Held up in touch, led on bit after 3 out, readily, won at Haydock 2m 4yo hdl (2) gd in Nov beating Los Nadis (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Celestial Halo (IRE) 7-4 (11-0) Led, driven after 2 out, headed last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Binocular (11-0) at Aintree 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Apr.
Crack Away Jack 2-1jt-fav (11-2) Held up, hit 5th and 6th, headway 4 out, chasing leading pair when mistake 2 out, kept on flat but held, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Chomba Womba (11-1) at Ascot 2m 3f hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Nov.
Chomba Womba (IRE) 2-1jt-fav (11-1) In touch, led 3 out, headed briefly approaching 2 out, kept on, all out gamely, won at Ascot 2m 3f hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Nov beating Crack Away Jack (11-2) by 1l, 8 ran.
