Thornton Keen On Katchit Chance

Robert Thornton believes Katchit will take all the beating in the WBX.COM 'Fighting Fifth' Hurdle at Newcastle tomorrow.

The four-year-old has only lost once in nine starts over hurdles and his victories at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals emulated the feats of the ill-fated Detroit City.

However, despite already scoring at the highest level twice, connections of Katchit expect Saturday's race to tell them if they have a serious Champion Hurdle contender on their hands.

'I'm looking forward to it obviously. I schooled him on Thursday morning just to keep him sharp and I was very pleased with him,' said Thornton.

'This is a big step up for him, the first time he is taking on older horses, and I just hope he can bridge the gap.

'It is always in the back of your mind that he wouldn't train on but at the end of last year I just thought that I would sit back and enjoy it, he doesn't owe me an awful lot.

'Arguably, he has improved over the summer. If he can beat Degas Art giving him 15lb, as he beat us last year giving him 8lb, on the bare form he has improved.

'He'll come on for that run at Aintree. It is a step up but he deserves to take his chance.

'It looks winnable. Looking at the prices, Harchibald looks the main danger but if he loomed upsides me going to the last and I was off the bridle that wouldn't worry me, we know my lad will scrap.

'He's all heart and you can't put that into a horse.

'Whatever he does I think he will take all the beating but it is a step up,' he told At The Races.

(C) PA Sport