Terence O’Brien’s Reply To Kayf was the toast of Navan in touchdown the Bar One Racing Troytown Handicap Chase.
Ridden by John Shinnick as an 11-1 shot, the nine-year-old constructed on his novice chasing expertise from final time period and the sixth-placed run at Punchestown on seasonal debut that clearly set him up effectively for this big-race task.
With Shinnick claiming a helpful 3lb, O’Brien’s cost ran an extremely recreation race to see off all challengers on the run to the road, claiming a two-and-a-quarter-length victory from Gavin Cromwell’s Yeah Man and the Ian Donoghue-trained Dunboyne.
“I don’t know how much planning we did, it was an obvious enough race for him. The ground came right at the right time for him,” mentioned O’Brien. “On quicker ground, I’d say he is not the same horse.
“Down the underside of the again straight, I believed we have been in deep trouble, however in equity he had numerous coronary heart and Johnny gave him a brilliant experience. I am delighted for Johnny as a result of he’d acquired a five-day suspension (which was set to rule him out of the experience) and I believed it was very unfair. He appealed it and so they allowed him to experience at this time. I am thrilled for him.”
He added: “Denis (O’Connor, proprietor) and I are nice associates for a very long time. It’s a powerful recreation and it has been onerous. It’s nice to ship. Arising right here at this time, did I feel I used to be going to win? No, I did not. I might have been thrilled if I used to be within the first 5 or 6.
“There’s extra to life than racing, however I suppose it brings out the emotion in folks. It’s simply implausible to win a race right here like this.
“I was second in it a couple of years back with Glenquest, about 10 years ago I’d say. You think you might not get a chance again because these handicaps are so competitive.”
Kalypso’probability makes no mistake at second time of asking over hurdles
Kalypso’probability confirmed extra of his true capacity to take the John Lynch Carpets & Flooring Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy.
The Gigginstown Home Stud-owned chestnut had beforehand carried out effectively in a point-to-point and two bumpers, after which he was upped in grade to complete out of the cash within the Grade One Nationwide Hunt Flat contests at Cheltenham and Punchestown.
His hurdling debut at Down Royal led to a well-beaten second and Elliott admitted to feeling underwhelmed by the run, however he returned to motion at Grade Three degree at Navan to run a much better race because the winner at 3-1, accounting for Paul Nolan’s The Massive Clubman by a size and 1 / 4.
“We were disappointed in him the last day, but I’d say two miles was just too short and a lot of ours just needed the run at that stage,” the coach mentioned. “I was probably trying to be clever splitting them all up in Down Royal.
“I used to be nervous of operating him again so fast, however in equity it was the precise determination.
“He was powerful and in equity to him, he was a special horse there at this time. You could possibly see the best way he was travelling together with his head down, he was completely happy. In Down Royal, his head was within the air and he by no means jumped.
“He had good bumper form last year and probably tapered off a bit at the end of the year, but that was back to more like it today.
“I would say that is it (his journey, two and a half miles) and he may go additional as effectively.
“Maybe straight to Naas because he’s after having two quick runs.
“Like most of these Gigginstown horses, he was purchased to be an enormous chaser. I would say no matter he does over hurdles, it’ll be chasing down the street.”
