AUSTRALIA Day may head to Cheltenham next march after a comprehensive victory over former Champion Hurdle winner Katchit in the williamhill.com Hurdle at Kempton yesterday.
Paul Webber’s seven-year-old justified odds of 1-2 to score by 10 lengths former Champion Hurdler Katchit in the two-mile contest.
Having run on the Flat and also over hurdles at Market Rasen in July, under jockey Denis O’Regan Australia Day made his superior fitness tell over Katchit, who has not won since his Champion Hurdle win in 2008, and former Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Noble Alan, who could finish only third.
Although he will have to improve a lot to be a factor in the Champion Hurdle – for which he is 33-1 with totesport and Stan James – he is clearly a horse in form.
He could run at Wincanton next month and Webber said: “If the weather holds and as long as we think he’s still fresh, we will go to Wincanton for the Elite Hurdle, which is a limited handicap on November 6.
“Then I should think we will put him to bed for the winter. He may end up having to run in the Champion Hurdle without us really knowing if he will act on the ground or go left handed.”
Katchit ran well enough to finish runner-up. He stayed on well without ever getting near the winner and a return to longer distances will see him in a better light.
Trainer Alan King said he was delighted with Katchit’s return. The seven-year-old could run at Ascot on November 20 and Cheltenham on December 11, both 2m4f races.
The jumps season is now starting to get going with Cheltenham on Saturday and Aintree starts its campaign this weekend with the totesport.com Old Roan Chase the highlight on Saturday.
