Lounaos Could Catch Katchit - King

Katchit may have most to fear from the Irish filly Lounaos in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, according to Alan King.

The juvenile has continued to surprise the Barbury Castle handler and in six starts over timber, his only defeat came when he was forced to concede 8lb to the smart Degas Art at Wetherby.

But despite his reservations, King also thinks Katchit is the ideal type for the hurly-burly of the Triumph.

'We were delighted with his win at Cheltenham last time and he has delighted me all season. He just seems to be getting better,' he explained.

'All my horses that ran at Cheltenham last week have just been taking it very easy this week, but he seems in good form.

'He will obviously go straight to the Triumph now, he won't have another run but he has come out of it well.

'The one that worries me most is the Irish filly Lounaos. She ran in the Irish Champion Hurdle last week and it was a very good performance.

'She will be very hard to beat, especially getting the sex allowance of 7lb.

'Katchit could be the real deal, though. He has amazed me all season, he has the match practice. He has been to Cheltenham three times, been there and done it and he looks the ideal type to me for the Triumph.

'He has plenty of pace, jumps well and will be able to hold his position. I was in the same position a few years ago with Trouble At Bay, but he used to hit flat spots and if you do that in a Triumph you are out the back before you know what has happened.

'I would like to think Robert Thornton can ride this horse how he wants. I keep thinking something will come out of the woodwork to beat him, but he keeps surprising me,' King told At The Races.

Katchit and Lounaos are 6-1 joint-favourites with Bet365 for the Triumph.

(C) PA Sport