Terence O'Brien's Answer to Kayf in Cheltenham equation after convincing success at Naas

Carrigtwohill trainer Terence O’Brien and his stable star Answer To Kayf booked their Cheltenham ticket with a convincing victory in the novice handicap chase at Naas last weekend. 

It was a very significant victory for this exciting chaser who looks sure to progress over fences and he was given an ultra-cool ride from Glanworth rider John Shinnick. 

Elsewhere, all the focus switches to the capital this weekend with so many graded horses in action at the Dublin Racing Festival. 

It promises to be a very revealing weekend sure to provide plenty of Cheltenham pointers. 

Lisgoold’s Paul Townend has a serious book of rides with Galopin Des Champs a short-priced favourite for the Irish Gold Cup. 

The Champion jockey will also ride Ballyburn, Gaelic Warrior, State Man or Lossiemouth and a host of other stars from the all-conquering Willie Mullins stable.

John Shinnick is enjoying a real purple patch right now and rode Answer To Kayf with supreme confidence. 

He could afford a peek over his shoulder on the run to the last and his partner wasn't troubled in asserting. 

A good jump at the last saw him move clear and he hacked up by 12 lengths over Canal End in really impressive style. 

Answer To Kayf finished fourth in last season's Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival and was making his third start over fences. He will certainly be a big each-way player wherever he runs at Cheltenham.

THRILLED

Terence O’Brien said: “I suppose heavy ground makes a huge difference and a drop in class. 

"It just goes to show how good those beginners' chases are as he couldn’t get a blow in. We’re hoping to go to Cheltenham with him, but I suppose the handicapper is going to give him a fair lump for that.

”The 2m4f novice handicap chase is the only one he can run in. There is a 3m5f novice as well, but you have to be in the first four over three miles and he hasn’t run over three miles. 

"The owners are thrilled and get a great buzz out of it. 

This has been a dream horse for them. At the end of the year an Irish National might not be out of the question.” 

Cork man Joe Donnelly is gathering a fantastic Cheltenham squad with Dancing City and Anzadam cementing their reputations with victories at Naas over the weekend. 

Despite the impressive victory of Anzadam it was interesting to hear the winning trainer Willie Mullins mention the Aintree Hurdle as a possible alternative for Anzadam. 

With Donnelly also owning State Man a lot will depend on how he runs in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown this weekend.

But Dancing City took a step up in class in his stride in the Grade 3 Finlay Ford At Naas Novice Chase. 

The 8/11 favourite made all throughout this extended three-mile trip. A good jump two out by the leader had his rivals off the bridle. 

The Mullins/Townend axis have really found form over the last few weeks and look set to dominate the Dublin Racing Festival this weekend. 

The winning trainer has never hidden his admiration for Dancing City and gave an upbeat bulletin after the race.

Mullins said: “Paul said he’s so settled, he’s exactly what you’d want for a three-mile chaser. He gallops and jumps, and only does what he’s asked to do. 

"I was very pleased with the performance in what is very, very testing ground. He looks like one for the Brown Advisory.” 

This gave Mullins and Townend a Grade 3 double following on from Anzadams easy success in the Limestone Lad Hurdle, and three winners on the card courtesy of Charlus who initiated the winning run.

DOMINANT

Finally, Constitution Hill continued his winning ways with victory in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday. 

Despite a serious blunder at the final hurdle the red-hot favourite powered to victory and is now the 4/5 favourite to regain his Champion Hurdle crown. 

Nico De Bonville will head to Cheltenham with some serious horses headed by this brilliant hurdler. 

The winning jockey was clearly relieved to get this assignment out of the way.

De Bonville said: “My heart was in my mouth at the last, but he was just doing it so easily. 

"He was either on a long one or was just going to fiddle away (jumping the last) but has kind of done something in the middle. We got there in the end.”