tracked leaders, chased winner approaching 3 out, kept on from last
held up, ridden after 4 out, headway when blundered badly 2 out, stayed on to take 3rd after last, no chance with front 2
led, blundered 5th, headed 4 out, soon ridden, weakened approaching last
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, led 4 out, not fluent next, driven out
tracked leaders, blundered 4 out when weakening
held up and raced wide, reminders and weakened 4 out
Katchit has done everything asked of him in two starts over hurdles but this looks tougher for Alan King's gelding under his penalties and preference is for the newcomer Degas Art, with Chaninbar rated the best of the remainder. The selection, a Listed race winner for David Elsworth on soft ground on the flat, was an expensive purchase by owner Graham Wylie but looks a likely type and, provided that he has been well enough schooled, the son of Danehill Dancer may well be good enough to make a winning hurdling debut. Richard Guest's European Dream was good value for his win here earlier this month and has to be respected but is another that may struggle under a penalty, while Poker De Sivola is held by Guest's horse on running that day and is hard to recommend although he may well improve for the run. French import Chaninbar has claims of reversing Chepstow form with Katchit on more suitable ground today but Degas Art could be a decent recruit to the hurdling ranks and gets the vote to make a winning debut.
Katchit (IRE) 4-11fav (11-5) In touch, keen, led 4th, ridden 2 out, driven out, won at Chepstow 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd beating Chaninbar (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
European Dream (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden to lead before last, kept on, won at Wetherby 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) gd beating Carrietau (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 19 ran.
Chaninbar (FR) 5-1 (10-12) In touch, chased winner after 4 out, every chance when ridden 2 out, hit last, outpaced flat, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Katchit (11-5) at Chepstow 2m 3yo nov hdl (4) gd.
Degas Art (IRE) 10-1 (8-6) Made all, raced alone far side from over 4f out, stayed on well, won at Newmarket 1m 4f lst stk (1) sft in Sept beating Into The Dark (9-0) by 2l, 14 ran (Flat).
English City (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway 3 out, effort next, ridden and one pace approaching last, 5th of 19, 6l behind European Dream (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) gd.
Poker De Sivola (FR) 11-4fav (10-12) Close up, led 6th, ridden and headed before last, no extra flat, 3rd of 19, 4l behind European Dream (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) gd.
