The highlight race on Day 1 of the Festival is the £360,000 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (G1) for 4-year-olds and up going 2 1/16 miles over 8 hurdles. 9-2 second choice Osana was allowed an uncontested lead of as many as 5 lengths early, but with 2 jumps remaining, 10-1 Katchit moved up to take over the lead. The pair dueled through the early part of the stretch, but Katchit pulled away in the final 50 yards to win by a hard-fought length in 4:08.10. It was a long 5 lengths back to 25-1 Punjabi in third, while 2-1 favorite Sizing Europe stalked the pace most of he way but faded badly late and was eased in the stretch.
Winning trainer Alan King said, "The stats were against us and I could have done without the rain. I hoped he'd run extremely well, but it's a huge shock. I did not expect a winner today. I've been really happy with him all season, but I knew it was going to be tough going out there against his elders."
Winning jockey Robert Thornton said, "He's as hard as coffin nails. The more you get stuck into him, the more he'll give. I haven't found the bottom of him yet. I wish they were all like that."
Results Chart
