mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden and every chance last, kept on same pace flat
held up, outpaced 3 out, weakened next
mid-division, headway 3 out, effort next, ridden and no impression approaching last
held up in rear, headway on bit approaching 3 out, led last, shaken up and stayed on flat
in touch, led 4 out, ridden and headed last, no extra flat
held up, headway to dispute lead 4th, blundered next, every chance 3 out, weakened next
led to 4th, outpaced after 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
with leader, led 4th, headed 4 out, weakened next
Katchit is a horse going places and he looks more than capable of taking this Grade 1 contest en route to a tilt at the championship next March, while Al Eile and Blythe Knight are also respected. Triumph Hurdle winner Katchit has now racked up six successive wins and does not know how to run a bad race. Alan King's charge possesses the necessary combination of speed and stamina, plus plenty of guts, and he may well need all those to work in tandem but he can score. Al Eile is high class and won the two-and-a-half mile Aintree Hurdle in the spring. He acts on any ground and was last seen putting in a big run in the Cesarewitch, so he is certainly very much respected. Blythe Knight is has been put up 18lb for a very comfortable Grade 2 novices' hurdle win at the Grand National meeting and has been busy at around a mile on the level since. There is no reason why he can't improve again but on the book he has plenty still to find with the other pair. The French Furze merits mention as a gradn old campaigner who won this when it was a Grade 2 four years ago and who is often placed at big prices in a race he was clearly made for. Of the remainder Clopf should be better for a recent Punchestown spin and was a Grade 1 champion novice winner at that track in the spring and is clearly open to further improvement, but like Blythe Knight he has plenty to find at level weights. A better renewal than some of recent years then, but Katchit looks a real class act and can continue his climb here.
Al Eile (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Chased leaders in moderate 3rd, no impression approaching 4 out, kept on same pace under pressure, 3rd of 6, 29l behind Essex (11-1) at Tipperary 2m hdl Grd 3 hvy in Jul.
Blythe Knight (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up, smooth headway approaching 3 out, stalked leader after 2 out, took lead flat, shaken up and ran on well, won at Aintree 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr beating Osana (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Clopf (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, 5th 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, 4th of 7, 9l behind Jazz Messenger (11-10) at Punchestown 2m hdl Grd 1 sft in Nov.
Harchibald (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Held up, progress into 5th 3 out, moderate 4th after 2 out, one pace, 5th of 8, 13l behind Silent Oscar (11-12) at Punchestown 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Katchit (IRE) Evensfav (11-7) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 4 out, led next, ridden approaching last, kept on well, won at Aintree 2m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct beating Degas Art (10-6) by 2l, 4 ran.
Mephisto (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 13th of 17, well behind Halcon Genelardais (10-2) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov '06.
The French Furze (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, lost place 6th, pushed along next, no impression, 4th of 6, 29l behind Labelthou (11-1) at Haydock 2m 7f hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Torkinking (IRE) 11-4 (10-13) Chased leaders, led after 8th, headed 3 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on flat, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Lankawi (11-3) at Hexham 2m nov chs (3) sft in Mar.
