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What has caused the lack of enthusiasm in Katchit this year?
I know his best form has always been at Cheltenham, but I am talking enthusiasm. Just has not shown the same liking for the game this term. I saw the Champion again yesterday and the young terrier travelled well there. From memory he travelled quite well last year in other races too. Was not going so well in the Kingwell compared to Blythe Knight, but that was on a sharp course against a good flat miler. King is in very good form now, so that can’t be blamed.The only thing I can put it down to is the hard race in the Champion. That finishing effort of Robert Thornton where he got a ban; strongly criticised by trainer and press alike. Could it be this has left a mark on Katchit’s enthusiasm? Some horses can take a strong whip ride, Miko De Beauchene (Welsh National) for example. But others, possibly small horses in particular; may not come back.
Don’t get me wrong it was not that bad a ride, borderline decision in my opinion. Am a great fan of Choc, after AP and Ruby there is no better; especially in a finish. But it is a question I believe that should be asked.
Mark
Value Is EverythingFrom my post in the Bula thread…
Im not sure what to make of Katchit at the moment, i have no doubt that he will improve for Cheltenham in March, however, it is another race for him today and another race where we possibly havent found out too much into how he will fair next March in the Champion Hurdle.
A race at Kempton, a race at Wincanton and a race at Ascot. Not 100% ready first time out and beaten by a race-ready Snap Tie, top of the handicap at Wincanton when beaten by Chomba Womba and Takeroc, and today, Ascot not suiting him at all in my opinion.
10/1 is a big price for the Champion Hurdle, i dont think he will win it, and to be honest, i am now doubting if he will finish within the first 3. I know im biased towards Alan’s horses, but i try and see it without blinkers, and with the way Katchit has been this season, i honestly cannot see Katchit finishing in the first 3. I do however, believe that he will improve for a run at Cheltenham.
Perhaps it is down to Alan King and his training methods.
How many of his horses progress with age?
Gaz,
I agree with you that he will improve at Cheltenham. But what do you think has caused the comparitive lack of enthusiasm? Not that he’s a suiggle horse. It is just last season his strength was his enthusiasm.
Mark
Value Is EverythingThe 2 mile hurdling division now seems very volatile indeed, with horses dropping out of the picture weekly.
Personally I would give the horse a serious rest and take it from there, running him any more could break his heart.
But Marble, last season and as a novice he thrived on his racing. So I can’t see a rest doing the job.
Mark
Value Is EverythingPerhaps it is down to Alan King and his training methods.
How many of his horses progress with age?
Like Nicholls, I think they reach their peak in a shorter time. But they should be able to maintain that peak. Don’t see any evidence King can’t keep them going Salselon.
Mark
Value Is EverythingThe question really was why has it happened? Not what is the solution but……
Blinkers or stepping up in trip?
Mark
Value Is EverythingI get the feeling that they have one day and one day only in mind for Katchit.
I’d judge him on what he achieves at Cheltenham next March and not on anything before then.
On that basis they were probably reasonably happy with the way their horse ran today although I’d suspect they were rather less happy with the way Binocular ran.
I get the feeling that they have one day and one day only in mind for Katchit.
I’d judge him on what he achieves at Cheltenham next March and not on anything before then.
On that basis they were probably reasonably happy with the way their horse ran today although I’d suspect they were rather less happy with the way Binocular ran.
Surely even if he is going to be at a peak on one day, shoud’ve travelled better.
Mark
Value Is EverythingGaz,
I agree with you that he will improve at Cheltenham. But what do you think has caused the comparitive lack of enthusiasm? Not that he’s a suiggle horse. It is just last season his strength was his enthusiasm.
Mark
Mark,
I think it is a combination of –
Last years’ efforts catching up with him
Needing a step up in trip
Some very good horses have passed him this season.I personally dont think the horse needs blinkers, i do however think that he needs stepping up in trip as pace isnt his greatest strength anymore. He still jumps a hurdle very well and competently, and i would like to think that if he got into a battle on the way to the line, he would still have that fighting spirit he has shown on many occasion in the past.
However, i think the combination of him needing a step up in trip and the fact that he has run into some very good horses in the form of Binocular, Crack Away Jack, Chomba Womba, etc…
Nicky Henderson has stated that 2 miles today was just too quick for his mare, well, i feel the same could be said for Katchit. The pace provided by the Triumph Hurdle winner, should have played into Katchit’s strengths today, however, he didnt seem to find much at the end of the race. Conversely, you have animals like Binocular who are going away from him at the end of the race, and winning in very comfortable fashion indeed.
He is a little horse, you have to wonder how much last seasons’ exertions took it out of him, especially his Champion Hurdle win. I do however, retain hope that Mr King will get him better for Cheltenham and that he will run a much better race in March. He hasn’t got that Champion Hurdle slogan screwed to the outside of his stable for no reason, and i hope he can show the ability in March, which he showed to win the race at the festival earlier this year.
Perhaps it is down to Alan King and his training methods.
How many of his horses progress with age?
Like Nicholls, I think they reach their peak in a shorter time. But they should be able to maintain that peak. Don’t see any evidence King can’t keep them going Salselon.
Mark
I read elsewhere he trains his horses harder than most. Perhaps someone else can expand better.
How many of his horses continue improving?
I get the feeling that they have one day and one day only in mind for Katchit.
I’d judge him on what he achieves at Cheltenham next March and not on anything before then.
On that basis they were probably reasonably happy with the way their horse ran today although I’d suspect they were rather less happy with the way Binocular ran.
Surely even if he is going to be at a peak on one day, shoud’ve travelled better.
Mark
Spot on David.You are being very short sighted Ginge and I say that will no disrespect. Even the biggest fans can’t see the forest for the trees sometimes.
Alan King made a lot of use of Katchit in his Triumph Hurdle year then totaly changed his tactics last season which proved to be 100% the right thing to do.
You only need to be able read what he said before to days race. "The horse isn’t sparkling at home" He drifted to around 7/1 and ran like a 33/1 shot.
I suspect he ran worse than even those in the know expected but I if I had backed him this time round I wouldn’t be the least bit concerned.
David already said what else needed to be said which I believe goes without saying.
I’m not sure how many races he has had but for a young horse he’s got a lot of miles on the clock..however, he was still giving a bit of weight away to the other horses today and he does come alive at Cheltenham; it does worry me, though…I’d hate to see him run badly at the Festival.
Fist,
I would not say King totally changed tactics. The choice of the Kingwell was the closest Champion Trial, and afterwards ran his best race in the Champion. Like I say, thrived on his racing.
As for saying he is "not sparkling at home", couldn’t that have something to do with his lack of enthusiasm?
Mark
Value Is EverythingThe horse has looked out of sorts all season and those that say he’s being brought along with one race in mind are straw clutching. It isn’t King’s style to send his horses out half cooked.
I took this from a post Katchit put on the Bula thread
He quoted from a post I made
"I wouldn’t take any of Katchit’s runs this year as representative of his true running. His defeats as a four-year old were better runs, and you could put them down to age/being prepared for Chelters. Alan King says he can get him better, but he seems to be lacking his enthusiasm, which has always been such a feature of his running. Perhaps his Champion effort has taken something out of him? I think it is this lack of edge, rather than ability, that looks to compromise his Champion chances. I’m a big fan. It would be a shame to see him defend his crown without his zest."
Katchit said
"Are you sure you weren’t in the ring with us after the race? That is pretty much the conversation we had with Choc and Alan.
For whatever reason he isn’t firing – we think he could be a little bored but there is the chance that he’s left a little of himself at Cheltenham last march given it was about as hard as race as it gets
Rest now for him until it’s time to get him ready for March and we think he’ll go fresh now. Alan says he can get him better but on today’s evidence we;re running for a place (which is what we thought we were doing last year)… Binocular looks a very fine animal!"
When Katchit was a three year-old, I doubt the original plan was to win the Triumph. As a four year-old, he was campaigned for the Champion. I’m sure he is again, but the way he has been running can’t be part of the plan. Previously, you could guarantee that he would try his heart out, but I’m not so sure at the moment.
Interesting what people say about Alan King. He really does bring horses on. One of his best (My Way) has really bombed out lately, but his horses don’t seem to have as many unexpected problems out of novice company as, say, some of Jonjo O’Neill’s do. Penzance hasn’t done much since he won the Triumph, but that was probably the best as he could have done. I can’t think of many of his that have gone wrong – are there many?
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