Kayanna’s Back

Kayanna’s Back looked impressive when making all to win a two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle at Punchestown on Thursday. She travelled well in front for Eddie O’Connell, just like she had done at Clonmel on her previous run, but a bad mistake at the last flight on the first circuit should have put an end to her winning chance, she just didn’t get her front legs up in time and O’Connell did well to stay on. But she was soon back on an even keel and travelling well again in front. She never opened up a clear advantage but she was still going best of all before the second-last, and she picked up really well from there, up the home straight and over the last, keeping on well to win by an easy five lengths in the end.

Sean Cahill’s mare looks like a really progressive sort now. She looked good on her previous run at Clonmel, making all to win by 10 lengths and in a very fast time, all of six seconds faster than standard. The handicapper raised her 16lb for that performance, but she made light work of it here, with another impressive display from the front. She was probably value for more than the official winning distance in the end, she was eased down to the line. The useful Jim Bowie chased her home, and the form of the race received a quick boost on Monday with the third and fourth, The Shepherd and Kaiser So Say, finishing second and first respectively in a handicap hurdle at Galway.

Kayanna’s Back has been raised a stone for this but she gives the impression that there could still be much more to come, she is only six, this was just her sixth run over hurdles and O’Connell actually had trouble pulling her up after the line. A daughter of Bob Back, and a half-sister to Grade 3 hurdle winner Mcgruders Cross, she could be well be up to at least listed class in the future. It may be that she will be put away for the winter now, as she may prefer better ground, but that would make her very interesting next spring.

14th October 2010