Katchit strikes a blow for the new generation

Katchit became the first five-year-old to win the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle since See You Then 23 years ago after a gutsy length victory over the front-running Osana.

Robert Thornton, leading rider at the meeting last year, was completing a double having landed the opener aboard Captain Cee Bee and described Katchit as a very tough little terrier. ´He was flat out all the way but I didn´t want to let Osana get away.´

Osana set a decent pace but looked sure to be swallowed up as Katchit, Sizing Europe and Sublimity were all poised to challenge two out.

However Sizing Europe folded quickly after two out, and was virtually pulled up on the run-in. Andrew McNamara later reported that something didn´t feel right but the 2/1 favourite was sound after the race.

Last year´s champion Sublimity flattered briefly before coming under pressure at the last, and it was left to Katchit to stay on bravely for a length win from the equally gallant Osana.

Punjabi kept on well from off the pace to finish a further five lengths back in third, with Sublimity a length away in fourth.

Connections of Sublimity felt the rain-softened ground blunted his speed, while Noel Meade also blamed the ground for the defeat of Harchibald (tenth).