Katarino back for hat-trick bid
Aintree specialist Sam Waley-Cohen is taking nothing for granted with Katarino as the 13-year-old attempts to provide him with a third victory in the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase this Thursday.
The pair teamed up to take the famous old prize in 2005 and 2006 but Katarino, who is now 13 and notoriously difficult to keep sound, has been restricted to a sole start in a point-to-point since his second success.
However, Waley-Cohen and his team, including father and trainer Robert, have left no stone unturned in his preparation.
“We have our fingers crossed we can get him there on Thursday, but he’s just a very fragile horse,” said the amateur rider.
“We have been doing our best to get him fit. He managed to win back-to-back Fox Hunters in 2006 without a win in-between.
“He must have done 10,000 miles of walking and cantering on the gallops! It has mainly been the head girl at the yard doing the work but I sat on him this week and he certainly felt well.”
Waley-Cohen has never failed to complete a race over the Grand National fences, having won the Topham Chase and finished fifth in the Grand National with Liberthine.
“Touch wood it has always gone well, but it looks like I won’t get a ride in the National itself this year,” he added.
“Shatabdi will be running in the John Smith’s Handicap Hurdle, the last race on Thursday and I might get one more ride on the Saturday. Mind you, you never know. There’s a lot of racing still to be run.”
