King's Katchit concern ahead of Wincanton test

Conceding upwards of a stone to his rivals is Alan King's main worry as he prepares to saddle Katchit in today's totetentofollow.co.uk Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.

The reigning Champion Hurdle winner will be loaded with 11st 10lb against four rivals in Somerset and Katchit is well known for his lack of stature.

He will be required to bounce back from a defeat already this season, having found Snap Tie too speedy in a conditions event at Kempton last month.

John Quinn's classy dual-purpose performer Blythe Knight is next in at the weights on 10st 10lb, but several others have very little to carry.

Chomba Womba, the prolific mare from the in-form Nicky Henderson yard is one, along with Takeroc, from Paul Nicholls' Ditcheat yard.

Takeroc is expected to become a fine chaser this season but also took second place in the Scottish Champion Hurdle earlier this year.

"He's in good form. He has no easy task at the weights but I knew that when I put him in," said King.

"He came out of Kempton so well I decided he could do with a bit more match practice before the Boylesports International at Cheltenham (next month) so we are running again."

King also has hopes for Sir Harry Ormesher in the £1 Million totetentofollow Rising Stars Novices' Chase, where his opponents include the Nicholls-trained Breedsbreeze, owned by Jim Lewis, whose association with Nicholls was made famous by Best Mate.

The pair enjoyed a victory double at Exeter on Tuesday, courtesy of Ouemeyade and Mahonia, and will be hoping Breedsbreeze can continue their winning streak.

King is hoping for an improvement in the ground to suit Sir Harry Ormesher. He added: " He is stepping up in trip here and I wouldn't mind the ground drying out a bit."