Cat ready to pounce in Grade One

Charisma Cat will attempt to take her career to new heights when making her Grade One debut at Aintree in the Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Saturday.

Having secured the biggest victory of her career in the Grade Two BetVictor British EBF “National Hunt” Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury last time out Alan has decided to roll the dice at the top table with the progressive six-year-old.

And having appeared to appreciate the step up to an extended two-and-a-half miles last time out Alan is keeping his fingers crossed that she can reach the frame once again on what will be her toughest assignment to date.

Alan said: “We taking on the boys here as the other race for her would have been one at Cheltenham, which has been lost, but she is up to one hundred and thirty two now so she is going the right way.

“She won’t be coming back in distance now as the step up in trip was always going to help her. The gap between Newbury and Aintree is fine, and that won’t be an issue.

“If we can get her Grade One placed it would be wonderful.”

Charisma Cat will not be the only member of the team from Barbury Castle Stables to grace the Merseyside venue on Saturday with stablemate Harbour Lake set to tackle the William Hill Handicap Hurdle.

Alan said: “Harbour Lake is probably high enough in the weights, but he is a grand horse that loves spring ground.

“He did have a wind operation before his last run when he finished fourth behind Ma Shantou at Cheltenham and that was a good run.

“He is not the easiest to train as we have a lot of trouble with his feet, but, at the moment, he is okay and he is in good form.”