Raceday LIVE – Katalyst
Chepstow,
Thu 14 Aug 2025 15:35
Related horse(s):
Katalyst
Katalyst heads to Wales for her Coral Racing Club debut this afternoon as she features in the EBF Restricted Maiden Fillies' Stakes (15:35) over six furlongs.
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track across our social channels on X (@CRCofficial) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Katalyst hasn't had the easiest build-up to her first official start on the racecourse, after having been withdrawn in what was supposed to be her debut contest at Newbury in June. In what was an unfortunate chain of events, she wouldn't go into the stalls at the course on that day and despite instructions not to blindfold her by jockey Conor Planas, who has knowledge of the horse's demeanour and temperament, the stalls handlers chose to do so anyway, which resulted in Katalyst becoming overly worked up and eventually refusing to go into the stalls.
Katalyst's Owners for the Day at Newbury enjoying their afternoon
Following that incident on what was due to be her 'first day at school', Katalyst was required to pass a stalls test before she would be allowed to attempt to race again. Thankfully, following some additional training at home, Katalyst passed her stalls test with flying colours and was allowed to be entered in races again going forward.
WATCH: Katalyst undergoes her stalls test at Windsor
It did however take a little bit longer than anticipated to get Katalyst into a stalls test, as she suffered a small injury between the attempted race at Newbury, and her first initially scheduled stalls test back at the same venue. Although frustrating not to be able to get her back on track in good time, it did mean that trainer, Chris Grassick, could give her some time in the Equine Spa at Linkslade Stables which happens to be fairly enclosed, allowing Katalyst to get more comfortable in tight surroundings ahead of her test.
Only three unraced fillies line up at Chepstow this afternoon, with Katalyst being one of them alongside White Island and Melodical for Rod Millman and Ed Walker respectively. Of the rest of the field, Boss Lady looks the most likely to take a step forward, having finished a close second place on her debut start at Windsor last month, meanwhile Cloudbuster will be looking to improve on her consecutive third place finishes at Pontefract.
Chris Dixon, Racing TV analyst, previews Katalyst's debut contest this afternoon
Katalyst was withdrawn at the start after refusing to enter the stalls on her intended debut at Newbury last month and as was the case going into that race, it’s difficult to make a point for expecting a winning debut. By the first season sire A’Ali, who has so far sired 7 individual winners, the best being three-time winner Ali Shuffle & Leopardstown maiden winner Fairy Oak, Katalyst is out of a German middle distance winner who hasn’t produced anything of note from five previous foals. It’s not a pedigree that screams first time out winner and given her trainers William Muir & Chris Grassick are 1/27 with juvenile debutants in the past two years she’s likely to be better for her initial experience.
However, this does look a fairly weak race on paper and there can be some hope of a prominent show. Of her rivals Boss Lady sets the form standard after going down by only a neck on debut at Windsor and could progress for that run. Portacloy also showed a bit in debut in a race with a flag start and should improve while Cloudbuster isn’t really progressing but does have plenty of pace and will likely make a bold bid from the front.
Trainer and Jockey Statistics
William Muir and Chris Grassick are in good form right now, with three winners in the last nine days, from only eleven runners. The duo have also had three winners at Chepstow since they teamed up at Linkslade Stables, but are still looking for their first at the course this year.
Lewis Edmunds rode two of Muir and Grassick's three winners in the last fortnight, with his third coming for the Rod Millman yard. He's ridden 49 winners for the pair in total and six of those have been this year.
Katalyst's Owners for the Day
The five Coral Racing Club members who submitted a name in our opening Name Your Horse competition which made it to the final shortlist of five have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Katalyst's debut race at Chepstow today.
What's included in this Owner for the Day prize?
Prize Money
Today's Class 4 contest is worth £6,800 in total, with the winner set to scoop £3,672 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £1,723 | 3rd: £862 | 4th: £431
Get paid as a WINNER in CASH up to a stake of £/€10 if your horse finishes 2nd by a head or less behind the winner in today's 15:35 at Chepstow – click here to find out more.
CHEPSTOW 15:35 – LATEST ODDS
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 15:35 to watch Katalyst's next run for the club live on the Coral Sports app.
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track across our social channels on X (@CRCofficial) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Katalyst hasn't had the easiest build-up to her first official start on the racecourse, after having been withdrawn in what was supposed to be her debut contest at Newbury in June. In what was an unfortunate chain of events, she wouldn't go into the stalls at the course on that day and despite instructions not to blindfold her by jockey Conor Planas, who has knowledge of the horse's demeanour and temperament, the stalls handlers chose to do so anyway, which resulted in Katalyst becoming overly worked up and eventually refusing to go into the stalls.
Katalyst's Owners for the Day at Newbury enjoying their afternoon
Following that incident on what was due to be her 'first day at school', Katalyst was required to pass a stalls test before she would be allowed to attempt to race again. Thankfully, following some additional training at home, Katalyst passed her stalls test with flying colours and was allowed to be entered in races again going forward.
WATCH: Katalyst undergoes her stalls test at Windsor
It did however take a little bit longer than anticipated to get Katalyst into a stalls test, as she suffered a small injury between the attempted race at Newbury, and her first initially scheduled stalls test back at the same venue. Although frustrating not to be able to get her back on track in good time, it did mean that trainer, Chris Grassick, could give her some time in the Equine Spa at Linkslade Stables which happens to be fairly enclosed, allowing Katalyst to get more comfortable in tight surroundings ahead of her test.
Only three unraced fillies line up at Chepstow this afternoon, with Katalyst being one of them alongside White Island and Melodical for Rod Millman and Ed Walker respectively. Of the rest of the field, Boss Lady looks the most likely to take a step forward, having finished a close second place on her debut start at Windsor last month, meanwhile Cloudbuster will be looking to improve on her consecutive third place finishes at Pontefract.
Chris Dixon, Racing TV analyst, previews Katalyst's debut contest this afternoon
Katalyst was withdrawn at the start after refusing to enter the stalls on her intended debut at Newbury last month and as was the case going into that race, it’s difficult to make a point for expecting a winning debut. By the first season sire A’Ali, who has so far sired 7 individual winners, the best being three-time winner Ali Shuffle & Leopardstown maiden winner Fairy Oak, Katalyst is out of a German middle distance winner who hasn’t produced anything of note from five previous foals. It’s not a pedigree that screams first time out winner and given her trainers William Muir & Chris Grassick are 1/27 with juvenile debutants in the past two years she’s likely to be better for her initial experience.
However, this does look a fairly weak race on paper and there can be some hope of a prominent show. Of her rivals Boss Lady sets the form standard after going down by only a neck on debut at Windsor and could progress for that run. Portacloy also showed a bit in debut in a race with a flag start and should improve while Cloudbuster isn’t really progressing but does have plenty of pace and will likely make a bold bid from the front.
Trainer and Jockey Statistics
William Muir and Chris Grassick are in good form right now, with three winners in the last nine days, from only eleven runners. The duo have also had three winners at Chepstow since they teamed up at Linkslade Stables, but are still looking for their first at the course this year.
Lewis Edmunds rode two of Muir and Grassick's three winners in the last fortnight, with his third coming for the Rod Millman yard. He's ridden 49 winners for the pair in total and six of those have been this year.
Katalyst's Owners for the Day
The five Coral Racing Club members who submitted a name in our opening Name Your Horse competition which made it to the final shortlist of five have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Katalyst's debut race at Chepstow today.
What's included in this Owner for the Day prize?
- Free racecourse entry
- Access to the Owners & Trainers enclosure
- Access to the Parade Ring before the race
- Meet Katalyst and the William Muir & Chris Grassick team
- Take home a 20% share of any prize money she wins
Prize Money
Today's Class 4 contest is worth £6,800 in total, with the winner set to scoop £3,672 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £1,723 | 3rd: £862 | 4th: £431
Get paid as a WINNER in CASH up to a stake of £/€10 if your horse finishes 2nd by a head or less behind the winner in today's 15:35 at Chepstow – click here to find out more.
CHEPSTOW 15:35 – LATEST ODDS
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 15:35 to watch Katalyst's next run for the club live on the Coral Sports app.
Share
