Answer To Kayf
Answer To Kayf ran out an impressive winner of the two-and-a-half-mile novices' handicap chase at Naas last Sunday. Prominent from early in a share of the lead with El Champo, he travelled well into the home straight as, one by one, his rivals started to come under pressure. Given a squeeze by John Shinnick on landing over the second last fence, he came clear of his rivals on the run to the last, jumped that fence well, and extended his advantage on the run up the hill to the winning line, where he had 12 lengths in hand of his closest pursuer.
Terence O'Brien's horse was a talented and progressive novice hurdler last season, his season reaching its zenith when he finished a close-up fourth behind Better Days Ahead, Waterford Whispers and Quai De Bourbon in the Martin Pipe Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He was beaten in his first two runs over fences this season, but he ran well in both on ground that should have been faster than ideal for him. On soft ground here, he took a big step forward. The handicapper raised him by 12lb to a mark of 142, but he deserved a hike of that magnitude, and he still has the potential to go beyond his mark of 142. His trainer mentioned the novices' handicap chase at Cheltenham as an option, and he would be of definite interest in that if the ground came up soft. We know that he goes well at Cheltenham. If the ground is not in his favour at Cheltenham, he will be of interest wherever he goes in the spring when the ground is soft. He stays further than this intermediate trip too, he finished a close-up third in the Grade 2 Dorans Pride Hurdle at Limerick last Christmas over two miles and seven furlongs, and he would be of interest in a good staying handicap chase in the spring, as long as the ground is soft.
Naas, 26th January 2025
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