Alan King double-handed for World Hurdle

ALAN King expects to launch a two-pronged attack on the Ladbrokes World Hurdle in March with both Karabak and Katchit being aimed at the race.

Former champion hurdler Katchit returned to form at the weekend, finishing third behind Tidal Bay in the Cleeve Hurdle.

However, Karabak was a late defector on Friday morning with King not quite happy with a scope as his string continues to recover from their early-season ailments.

"I still have a few who are not quite right and as I was not 100 per cent happy with Karabak's final scope, we opted out of Cheltenham," said King. "I did not want to take any chances. My original intention anyway after his run against Big Buck's in the Long Walk was to go straight to the Festival, so it is not a problem.

"Katchit might not have the speed of old, but the enthusiasm is certainly still there and he never stopped battling up the hill.

"I was absolutely delighted with that run, and the World Hurdle will be his next race," he told his website.

Karabak is a 6-1 chance while Katchit is available at 33-1, but Big Buck's – trainer by Paul Nicholls – remains the red-hot 8-13 favourite.

Time For Rupert is 20-1 for the World Hurdle with the sponsors after booking his place when second in the Cleeve.

"Rupert ran a faultless race to split an Arkle winner and a Champion Hurdle winner in his trial for the World Hurdle at the Festival," said trainer Paul Webber. "He travelled the best he has ever done through this race, a sure sign that he is developing and improving still. However, I have no illusions of being able to trouble an in-form Big Bucks; that might be dreaming a little too much."

Another on target for the World Hurdle is Nicky Henderson's Sentry Duty, an easy winner from Katchit on New Year's Day.

"He'll go for the World Hurdle all being well," said Henderson. "You can't have him fresh enough. His last race was a bit of afterthought and I thought it would be nice to see how he got on over two miles five. We know Big Buck's is going to be hard to beat though."

Meanwhile, Noel Fehily fears he might miss both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals after aggravating an old shoulder injury at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The Irish-born rider could need an operation after seeing a specialist on Monday following his tumble from Den Of Iniquity at Cheltenham on Saturday.

"There's tendon damage to my shoulder. I'm probably going to have an operation, but that's still a bit up in the air," said Fehily. "I could be out for a couple of months. If I'm going to have an operation it will be in the next week. We'll see what the doctors say after that.

"At the moment it's looking doubtful for Cheltenham and Aintree. I'm hoping there might be some light at the end of the tunnel but it's not looking that way at present."