Snap Tie scuppers Katchit on return
While doing very little wrong on his first outing since the Cheltenham Festival itself, trainer Alan King felt the lightning fast track had not brought the best out of his star.
Katchit was rated a stone in advance of his six rivals and made the 4-5 favourite for the conditions event, but there was notable support for the Philip Hobbs-trained Snap Tie (11-4), who had also not competed since Cheltenham when finishing third in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Sporazene led the pair into the home straight for the final time and while Robert Thornton booted Katchit in front at the second-last, his usually devastating finishing kick was matched by Richard Johnson and Snap Tie, who pulled away from the final flight to win by a length and a half. Last year’s winner Alph was third.
King reflected: “There was too much emphasis on speed today and it is a long old season. I am disappointed (not to win) but I am satisfied with the run.
“He’s had a good blow and Choc (Thornton) said he will come on a bundle. Kempton would be fine if the ground was slower but I don’t regret coming here.
“He might also have met a very good young horse here and he will go to Cheltenham (for the Boylesports International) now.”
Katchit remained largely unchanged at 6-1 joint-favourite with Binocular for the Champion Hurdle while Snap Tie was introduced at 20s with Paddy Power but 12s with totesport.
* Unsung Heroine will be aimed at the top fillies races next year after signing off her first season with a narrow defeat at Newmarket.
Races such as the Yorkshire Oaks and the Park Hill Stakes could be on the agenda for the Tommy Stack-trained filly.
She was beaten a head by Crystal Capella in the Group Two Pride Stakes on Saturday in her first outing since she finished runner-up to Conduit in the Ladbrokes St Leger.
“She’s fine, no problems, but they went a bit steady for her yesterday,” said Stack’s son and assistant, Fozzy.
“That’ll be it for the year. She’ll go for the Yorkshire Oaks, the Park Hill and races like that.”
* Knowhere will start off his season at Aintree next weekend as Nigel Twiston-Davies prepares his hardy chaser for another tilt at the Hennessy Gold Cup.
Twice a winner at Cheltenham last season, the 10-year-old was fifth to Denman in last year’s Hennessy as well as taking third in the Paddy Power Gold Cup.
Twiston-Davies said: “Knowhere’s great and he’s going to go off to Aintree next weekend. He’ll have an entry for the Paddy Power but is more likely to go for the Hennessy.”
Twiston-Davies also confirmed Ollie Magern to be on course to win a third Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.
