Alan King is purring at the thought of going up in distance with Charisma Cat at Newbury on Saturday, where the classy performer lines up in the BetVictor British EBF “National Hunt” Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
A Listed bumper winner last term, the six-year-old has been a model of consistency since being switched to timber, yet to finish outside the first two in four hurdling appearances and second to the well-regarded Khrisma at Market Rasen last time out.
A 3lb rise for that effort leaves Charisma Cat burdened with top-weight, but the Barbury Castle handler feels she is ready to get her claws into the extra yardage this Grade Two event presents.
King said: “I think going up in trip will suit her. We obviously went up a few pounds for finishing second at Market Rasen the other day which isn’t ideal and hence top-weight, but I think the two and a half miles around Newbury could end up playing to her strengths.
“The winner at Market Rasen is pretty smart, so hopefully it’s nice form. We’ve always thought Charisma Cat was very good and she’s progressing nicely.”
Similar sentiments also apply to Emma Lavelle’s Watamu, who was a place behind Charisma Cat in third at Market Rasen but will now encounter good ground, which her trainer believes will inspire improvement.
Lavelle said: “She’s a mare who has always looked like she would like nice ground yet it has been soft every which way I’ve gone with her, so I’m really looking forward to running her on better ground.
“She’s learned to race better with each start and she was so keen early on this season, but was the best she’s been in terms of settling when she ran at Market Rasen.
“Her dam won a Listed hurdle over two-miles-five and she’s by Crystal Ocean so she should stay that extra trip. Hopefully she has a touch of quality about her.
“I’ve always liked this mare, we’ve waited for some nicer ground and she goes there on the back of a nice education this winter on softer.”
Fourth behind the two aforementioned at the Lincolnshire track last month was Dan Skelton’s Getawhisky, who is another to shape like a move up in distance could be of benefit, while further back in sixth was Edith Pelham who is one of two in the race for Fergal O’Brien.
The Gloucestershire trainer won the race 12 months ago with Siog Geal and as well as Edith Pelham – seen as a chaser of the future – hopes to make his presence felt again with Strong Run.
“We had Strong Run in the mares’ novice at Cheltenham, but this has always been her plan from a long way out,” said O’Brien.
“We’re looking forward to her running and she worked very well on Tuesday and schooled well on Thursday and she looks the ideal type for the race.
“She’s similar in a lot of ways to Siog Geal. She has a good level of form going into it and hopefully she’s on a nice mark. She just needs the rub of the green on the way round.”
O’Brien added: “We’ve also got Edith Pelham in there who will be a bigger price and is probably more of a three-mile chaser in time.”
