Trainer Alan King has revealed Katchit is unlikely to run again before defending his Champion Hurdle crown in March, while he made no excuses for Blazing Bailey's defeat to Punchestowns.
Katchit may well be put away for the Champion after his disappointing display in the Boylesports.com International at Ascot on Saturday.
The diminutive five-year-old has failed to get his head in front since taking the biggest prize in hurdling back in March and was beaten 18 lengths into fourth by Binocular at the weekend.
It was not ideal for the gelding that the race had to be switched from Cheltenham's abandoned meeting a week earlier but King hopes he will bounce back when returning to his happiest hunting ground in March.
‘He's fine and he seemed pretty bright after the race. I made no secret of the fact that he had not been pleasing me at home beforehand,’ said the trainer.
‘He's going to have a break now and I don't think you'll see him again before the Champion. He must still have a very good each-way chance. I don't think we'll get enough improvement out of him to beat Binocular the way he's winning but hopefully he'll go there and give a good defence.’
King is making no excuses for Blazing Bailey after he was beaten into fourth in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.
The six-year-old, a winner at the Punchestown Festival in April, has failed to hit the target in two starts over obstacles this season and was beaten over 17 lengths by impressive winner Punchestowns at the weekend.
King was pleased with the performance of his staying hurdler and will now get him ready for another tilt at the World Hurdle at Cheltenham in March after finishing third and fourth in the last two renewals.
'He ran very well but I think that is just as good as he is,' King told At The Races.
'He's going to have a short break now and will go to the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on January 24 before going for the World Hurdle. He's always vulnerable to a top-class horse and I think Punchestowns may be top-class.
'Our horse is still sure to run very well in the World Hurdle where he'll have the blinkers back on.'
