CHAMPION HURDLE REPORT:IT IS without question unfair on a hugely courageous winner like Katchit, but from an Irish point of view at least there was an almost tangible sense of anti-climax in yesterday's Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle as the favourite, Sizing Europe, was all but pulled up before the line.

The disappointment was made even more acute by the fact that, on the run down the famous Cheltenham hill to the second-last obstacle, it looked like we were on the verge of something so different.

Ranged alongside the terrier-like English duo of Katchit and Osana, Sizing Europe's massive presence only added to the impression that an emerging superstar was about to be unleashed. Even Andrew McNamara had time to consider the ease with which he was travelling.

"I was delighted with him through the race. He was travelling really easy down the hill. But then he lost his stride approaching the second-last and I knew something was wrong," said the jockey.

"I left him alone and I would have pulled him up but for Straw Bear being next to me."

It must have been a bitter blow for a young jockey who couldn't have imagined his day could get even worse after losing out on the opening winner due to being claimed, and then unseated from Clopf at the first in the Arkle Trophy.

Sizing Europe, who officially finished 14th of 15 despite slowing to a walk on the run-in, was a focus of attention in the unsaddling enclosure reserved for unplaced horses, where he had buckets of water repeatedly poured over him. But he was led away sound.

While that was happening, Katchit received the plaudits of a cheering crowd that knew they were showering their praise on a character who had earned every cheer.

The diminutive winner was defying both his stature and an age hoodoo that stretched back 23 years to when the last five-year- old, See You Then, won out in the most important hurdle race of all.

Next to Sizing Europe, the Alan King-trained horse was dwarfed. But while the favourite stopped as if shot, Katchit powered up the hill in a way that left little doubt Osana's rallying effort was always going to come up short.

Ultimately there was a length between them, with another five lengths back to Punjabi in third, and the best of the Irish, Sublimity, in fourth.

"He stuck at it the whole way but the ground was soft and that takes more stamina," said the 2007 champion's rider, Philip Carberry. "It might have been better if he'd had an easy run beforehand, but it is hard to get those easy races."

Further back in 10th was Carberry's brother Paul on Harchibald, who, along with Noel Meade, didn't have the look of men whose dreams had just been shattered. Ground conditions dictated that.

Earlier in the week Meade had great concerns about the going: "I'm very worried about the ground. There's been a lot of rain and I'm worried it might get very soft," he said.

"Softer than soft," was Carberry's succinct description yesterday, while Meade added: "We knew after the first race when Ruby (Walsh) told us the ground was soft that it wasn't his day. It was a desperate slog from the last."

Such conditions were always going to be more in Katchit's favour, and no team was more likely to take advantage than that of "Chocolate" Thornton and King, whose Cheltenham exploits last year drew comparisons with big-race festival dominance normally associated with Paul Nicholls. This championship result puts them firmly at the top table.

"I wasn't nervous at all beforehand because I didn't think we would win," grinned 41-year-old King. "If he had run in the first four I would have been delighted with him."

The Scot's incredulity was only matched by Thornton's, who had earlier secured a perfect festival start with Captain Cee Bee's win in the opening Supreme.

"He is such a terrier," beamed the 29-year-old.

"He is so tough. He was flat out the whole way, basically because I didn't want to let Sizing Europe get away."

Even in their finest hour then, even the King, Thornton and Katchit team still had the favourite's name on their lips. The crucial difference, however, was that they were mentioning him in the most coveted number one spot in the game.