Katimavik

Katimavik only just got home in the end in the one-mile handicap at The Curragh on Sunday, but he shaped as the most likely winner from a fair way out, and he is probably value for at least a little more than the short-head by which he won.

Held up towards the back of the field and towards the near side by Pat Smullen through the early stages of the race, Dermot Weld’s horse closed on the leaders from the two-furlong pole and, while Marshall Jennings and Kings Ryker battled on well on the far side, and while Cullentry Royal finished well on the near side, it always looked like Katimavik was going to prevail, which he duly did.

This was more like it from the Moyglare Stud gelding. Winner of a maiden at Fairyhouse last September on his second of just two runs as a three-year-old, he was well beaten in a big handicap at The Curragh on Derby weekend on his first run this term, and he was beaten by Rummaging in a three-horse race at Leopardstown two weeks later. He found himself in front early enough that day, which he didn’t seem to enjoy in his first-time blinkers. Wearing blinkers again on Sunday, he seemed to be much happier held up in behind and passing horses late on. It was another good ride from Pat Smullen.

Dropped 2lb after his Leopardstown run, the handicapper raised him just 3lb for Sunday’s win, and that is more than fair. He raced off a mark of 83 on his debut this season, and he should be well up to winning again off his new mark of 81. Sunday’s run was just his fifth ever, and he still has lots of potential to progress again. By sprinter Invincible Spirit from the family of Ribblesdale Stakes winner Irresistible Jewel, this mile is a good trip for him, but he shapes as if he could step up to nine or 10 furlongs now if he needed to. He is a horse who probably only just does enough and, as such, it may be difficult for the handicapper to get to grips with him. He will be of interest wherever he goes next off his current mark, and he could be best-suited to big-field handicaps in which he can be covered up and delivered late off a fast pace.

9^th August 2015