Panda Boy on course for Cheltenham after front-running victory

Panda Boy booked his ticket for the Cheltenham Festival when making all in the QuinnBet Hunter Chase at Naas this afternoon.

The Martin Brassil-trained grey gelding was a smart handicap chaser holding a career high rating of 146 and has been switched to the hunter chase sphere this season winning at Thurles last month.

John Gleeson ’s mount put in a decent round of jumping, although Hunters Yarn looked a big threat early in the straight.

The 85/40 chance kept on strongly on the run-in to extend his advantage over that rival to four lengths, with Ryehill a further five and a half lengths back in third.

Brassil said, “It’s very pleasing that he did that again. That should qualify him for any of those Foxhunters. That was the main aim.

“I approached Brian (Gleeson) to see if he was interested in him because I knew John was looking to get on a horse like that. It’s worked out great.

“John missed out on riding him the last day but gave him a super ride there.

“That wouldn’t really be his ground; he’d like a bit of nice spring ground. He’d be even better on it as he floats along on nice ground.

“Hopefully he’ll give him a good ride now in the race at Cheltenham. He’ll love the extra quarter-of-a-mile and he jumps well.

“I’d say he’ll be better with a bit of company as well. With something upsides him he’ll even be better again.

“He put down his head there; he was very game. He can be idle enough.

“He’s in his own company now. He just found that in those good handicaps things were happening a lot quicker for him, and he likes a bit of room in his races.”

Paddy Power cut Panda Boy into 5/1 (from 10/1) for the Hunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next month.

Quotes by Gary Carson