Cheltenham pair book festival passage

Knife Edge and Colonel Braxton booked their Cheltenham Festival tickets when odds-on winners of their respective trials in desperate ground at Naas this afternoon.

With three fences omitted from the Newlands Chase because of the bad ground, Knife Edge had just seven obstacles to overcome to extend his winning sequence for local trainer Michael O`Brien and jump racing`s leading owner J P McManus.

However with the favourite taking a keen hold and Tom Rudd allowing him contest the lead from halfway, those who backed Knife Edge to complete a four-timer at 4-5 had some anxious moments on the climb home from the final fence.

Having mastered Rathbawn Prince early in the home straight, Rudd`s mount began to tire in the hock-deep ground after the last and that allowed 16-1 chance Over The Furze as well as Arctic Copper to whittle down his advantage significantly to a half a length and a head at the finish.

'That wasn`t the ideal preparation - my fellow made it a gallop that suited the stayers in the race and you can`t judge Knife Edge on that ground,' said winning trainer O`Brien.

'Knife Edge didn`t jump particularly well because he needs a lead and better ground. The Queen Mother Champion Chase would suit him the way it is run because you could drop him in and take your time and the ground has to be better over at Cheltenham,' the trainer added.

Knife Edge is entered in both the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Cathcart Cup over two miles five furlongs trip and connections may well keep their options open until nearer the Festival.

Over The Furze and Commanche Court were badly outpaced early on, but they did buckle down well in the home straight to finish second and fourth respectively with Over The Furze likely now to take his chance in the Midlands National at Uttoxeter next month.

Colonel Braxton who got off the mark over fences for the first time in the Anglo Irish Bank Chase at 4-6 is engaged in both the Royal & Sun Alliance Novices` Chase and the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham.

However the former event is the choice of his trainer Dessie Hughes.

'I put him in the Arkle Trophy in case it came up bottomless, but it will hardly be as bad there as it was today and the longer race would be my preference,' said Hughes.

Norman Williamson who completed a quick double half-an-hour later on 2-1 favourite Tuco in the Johnstown Novice Hurdle set out on Colonel Braxton in earnest in pursuit of the wide-margin leader Copernicus with a mile to run.

Colonel Braxton had drawn alongside the pace-setter before the final fence but Youlneverwalkalone who had also been patiently ridden by Conor O`Dwyer was closing.

On the climb to the post there was little to choose between the two, but Williamson got a fine response from the odds-on chance to go two and a half lengths clear close home.

'Norman said our horse got lazy out on his own. He doesn`t like the ground as deep as that, but he gets the trip well and he had to have courage to win this one,' said Hughes.

Tipperary trainer Edward O`Grady who withdrew Sheltering from Fairyhouse on Saturday because of a runny nose also withdrew two horses, Over The Bar and Aunt Aggie, because of nasal discharges today.

However, he did have a winner when Pizarro rallied to take the concluding bumper in the hands of champion amateur Philip Fenton.