Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TOP CAT KITTY
’Special horse’ does the double
KITTY’S LIGHT shrugged off a mere seven-day respite since his Scottish Grand National triumph to right a two-year wrong in the bet365 Gold Cup.
In April 2021, Christian Williams’ chaser was stopped in his tracks before crossing the line in third place in the feature race of Sandown Park’s Jump Finale.
But the stewards were powerless to award him anything more than the silver medal.
Demoted winner Enrilo was the villain then, and yesterday Kitty’s Light and Jack Tudor (right) had to take evasive action when the nine-year-old fell at the second fence. However, the 11-4 favourite regathered his poise to beat 16-1 shot Moroder by two-and-a-half lengths.
Only Hot Weld in 2007 had achieved the AyrSandown double.
Williams said: “His constitution is unbelievable and at this time of year he comes into himself.
“He just came out of the race so well.
“We just felt that he’s a special horse and we wanted to give him the opportunity to do something that not many horses have done.”
Last Saturday’s win at Ayr came days after Williams’ five-year-old daughter Betsy had been diagnosed with leukaemia. Williams added: “We’ve got tough times ahead, but we’re lucky to be involved in this sport. To see the joy that it brings Betsy, Charlotte and all the family at home is just a big lift.” Hewick, who won the final big race of the National Hunt season in 2022, returned to Esher to lift the Grade 2 bet365 Oaksey Chase under Rachael Blackmore.
Jonbon convinced Nicky Henderson he deserves his chance in the top two-mile races over fences next season with a three-andthree-quarter-length supremacy in the Grade 1 bet365 Celebration Chase. » TOM O’BRIEN, who partnered Thyme Hill to success in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle for longtime boss Philip Hobbs two years ago, brought his career in the saddle to a close. He rode the nineyear-old into fourth behind Knappers Hill in the Grade 2 bet365 Select Hurdle.