Pret A Thou on song for eighth win

The eight-year-old landed a novice hurdle on his last start but took in his stride the return to the larger obstacles.

Despite running keen throughout, he jumped with great élan and found plenty for pressure between the final two fences for Harry Challoner, defeating De Boitron by two-and-a-quarter lengths.

The 17-2 chance made the long trip from Groucott’s Shrewsbury base worthwhile for connections.

“He’s an absolute pleasure to train,” said Groucott.

“He’s so enthusiastic, he just loves his work.

“That’s my first winner at Catterick. I’ve had a second here, but we tend not to send many as it is a long way to come for us.

“He handles loose ground when it’s quite soft, but when it’s sticky he doesn’t like it.

“He was running off 132 today so I’d hope the handicapper doesn’t put him above 135 because that’s his mark.”

Malcolm Jefferson’s Mac Aeda (11-10 favourite) has the size and scope to make a nice chaser in time and opened his account over timber in the Valentine’s Day Novices’ Hurdle.

It took him a while to get the better of market rival Eighteen Carat, but Graham Lee kept him up to his work to eventually win by 18 lengths.