He was a moderate performer on the flat, winning one minor event in eleven attempts, but showed improved form when tried over hurdles despite recurring injury problems.
[8] He finished fifth in a hurdle at Leicester two weeks later before reappearing at Kempton Park Racecourse in January in which he was matched against River North, a top-class flat horse whose wins included the Aral-Pokal.
On his first of the 1996/1997 National Hunt season, Karshi carried top weight in a handicap hurdle at Warwick in November and finished second to Balanak to whom he was conceding twenty-four pounds.
In December he started 11/8 favourite for the Lonesome Glory Hurdle, a leg of the Sport of Kings Challenge series which was intended to promote competition between British and North American steeplechasers.
[10] Karshi's next race was a minor handicap hurdle over two miles five furlongs at Newbury Racecourse in February when he finished third to Copper Boy, conceding twenty-three pounds to the winner.
Karshi rallied to move up between Paddy's Return and Escartefigue approaching the final hurdle, took the lead and was driven clear on the run-in to win by two and a half lengths from the fast finishing Anzum.
[11] After a nine-month absence, Karshi returned for a handicap hurdle at Doncaster Racecourse on 13 December in which he carried top weight of 168 pounds and finished third behind New Inn and Star Rage.
Karshi started 7/4 favourite for the Grade 1 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on 31 January but after leading for most of the way he tired in the closing stages and finished last of the five runners behind the mare Mistinguett.