Cheltenham: Alan King's diminutive Katchit defied the statistics in the most determined fashion to land the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Last year's Triumph Hurdle victor arrived at Prestbury Park trying to become the first five-year-old since See You Then in 1985 to claim the big one.
Showing all his battling qualities and continuing his love affair with Cheltenham, the little fighter was driven by Robert Thornton to a length success from Osana, who had set out to make all and after looking beaten still emerged as the main challenger after the last.
Punjabi ran on to pip last year's winner Sublimity for third.
Hot favourite Sizing Europe moved menacingly for most of the contest but faded dramatically when push came to shove.
Tom Scudamore made a bold bid on Osana and dug deep after looking beaten two from home, while reigning champion Sublimity, who had not jumped as well as he can, looked a major threat but failed to find as much as 12 months ago.
Harchibald found the soft ground against him and never landed a blow.
Returned at 10-1, the winner was given a 5-1 quote by Blue Square to land a Champion repeat next year.
Delighted trainer King told Channel 4 Racing: "It's unbelievable!
"I've been so relaxed all day as I honestly didn't think he could win. I said to the owners if he was in the first four I would be very proud of him.
"It was a beautiful ride again and I'm so proud of the team."
Thornton added: "I don't know what to say really - it's unbelievable.
"He's a little terrier. He was flat out all the way to be honest, I didn't want to let Sizing Europe get away. He's just so tough. I believed he could (win) but whether he actually would was another thing. I'm delighted."
Martin Pipe, father of Osana's trainer David Pipe, said: "He's run a great race, the plan was to make the running and Tom gave him a great ride.
"No excuses and he was only beaten a length at the end."
Trainer Nicky Henderson is now targeting a trip to Aintree with Punjabi.
He said: "Punjabi went to Cheltenham and Punchestown last season and there's no reason why he can't do the whole thing again, with Aintree the next stop.
"There isn't a race for him there over two miles which means he will step up in distance and he will be joined by Afsoun.
"The good thing about Punjabi today was the way he stayed on up the hill while Afsoun (seventh) lost his place before the second-last, at which point I thought he would be tailed off. He ran on again when meeting the rising ground."
Henry De Bromhead, trainer of the beaten favourite, said: "The
jockey said he lost his action after the second-last but he seems
to look OK at the moment."
The Cheltenham Gold Cup, the highlight of the meeting, is on
Friday when last year's winner Kauto Star is up against stable
companion Denman in a long awaited clash.
Earlier today Tidal Bay, ridden by Denis O'Regan, romped up the hill to win the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy in the second race.
Howard Johnson's jumped the last with three lengths to spare and comfortably beat Tony McCoy on Kruguyrova and hot-favourite (7-4) Noland, ridden by Ruby Walsh.
Thyne Again was fourth after fading in the run in.
Owner JP McManus dominated the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle but it was the Robert Thornton-ridden Captain Cee Bee who got the better of McCoy on Binocular up the hill.
Plenty of the leading fancies held chances turning into the straight in the opening race of the 2008 Cheltenham Festival, with Rippling Ring and Cork All Star among those prominent.
McCoy made his bid for home on the Nicky Henderson-trained four-year-old before the last, but Thornton galvanised Eddie Harty's seven-year-old up the hill to win by two lengths, with Snap Tie back in third.
Cheltenham Results
2.00 Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle
1 Captain Cee Bee (R Thornton) 17-2
2 Binocular (A P McCoy) 8-1 Co Fav
3 Snap Tie (R Johnson) 20-1
22 ran
Also: 8-1 Co Fav Muirhead, Pigeon Island, 40-1 Kalahari King
4th
2.35 Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy
Chase
1 Tidal Bay (Denis O'Regan) 6-1
2 Kruguyrova (A P McCoy) 9-1
3 Noland (R Walsh) 7-4 Fav
14 ran
Also: 8-1 Thyne Again 4th
3.15 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge
Trophy
1 Katchit (R Thornton) 10-1
2 Osana (T Scudamore) 9-2
3 Punjabi (B J Geraghty) 25-1
15 ran
Also: 2-1 Fav Sizing Europe, 7-1 Sublimity 4th
4.00 William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase
1 An Accordion (T Scudamore) 7-1
2 New Alco (D N Russell) 10-1
3 L'ami (A P McCoy) 11-2 Fav
14 ran
Also: 6-1 Patsy Hall 4th
4.40 BGC Cross Country Handicap Chase
1 Garde Champetre (Miss N Carberry) 4-1
2 Native Jack (D N Russell) 40-1
3 A New Story (A J McNamara) 20-1
4 Freneys Well (Mr G M Mangan) 25-1
16 ran
Also: 5-2 Fav Wonderkid
5.20 Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle
1 Crack Away Jack (P Carberry) 14-1
2 Ashkazar (T J Murphy) 15-8 Fav
3 Grand Schlem (C Pieux) 12-1
4 Indian Spring (A J McNamara) 66-1
22 ran
Non Runners: 12,15