'We've never had anything so quick' - electric Dysart Enos becomes Cheltenham Festival favourite for Fergal O'Brien

A Cheltenham Festival winner is top of Fergal O'Brien's wish list and Dysart Enos – hailed as the quickest horse he has trained – advanced her claims to provide the breakthrough in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle in March.

Paddy Power shortened her to 4-1 (from 6) for the festival following her stylish victory in the opening 2m1f novice hurdle at the December meeting under Paddy Brennan. That festival target has been her aim since recording a dazzling nine-length win in the Grade 2 mares' bumper at Aintree in April.

It gave O'Brien, who was Gloucestershire's top trainer for the first time last season, a first winner at the track this season and warmed him up for big spring ambitions.

"At this stage, she's the best we've had because we've never had anyone so quick," he said.

"She's very good. Cheltenham is what we're hoping for so fingers crossed. Paddy said she was very special and she looked to win very well."

Dysart Enos and Paddy Brennan are led back in to the Cheltenham winner's enclosureCredit: JOHN GROSSICK

Dysart Enos shares joint-favouritism for the Grade 2 prize on the Thursday of the festival with the Gordon Elliott-trained Brighterdaysahead and will likely have one more run before then.

"She'll only have one more race, if that," said O'Brien. "We'd look for a straightforward novice hurdle at the end of January where she'll have a 6lb penalty.

"We had looked at going to Newbury last week which was a nice pot. This is a lovely pot too and a good experience, it fits in right and it's just down the road. Coming here was the right decision."

Dysart Enos was strongly backed into 5-6 favouritism and defeated the Harry Fry-trained Beat The Bat.

'It's so tough at home' - Cromwell strikes again

Tough competition in Ireland has led Gavin Cromwell to campaign more of his horses in Britain and he continued to reap the rewards as La Malmason provided him with a sixth winner at the track this season.

Success in the 2m4½f mares' handicap chase was another reward for the Meath trainer, who has regularly travelled his horses away from Ireland, avoiding powerhouse trainers Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott. That pair have had just a handful of representatives at Cheltenham's three fixtures since the start of the core season.

The home of jump racing was the chosen location for Cromwell's stable star and dual Stayers' Hurdle hero Flooring Porter to make his chasing debut, while Malina Girl, My Mate Mozzie, Hascoeur Clermont and Encanto Bruno have plundered significant prizes at the track.

"It's so tough at home," said Cromwell, who has fielded 14 runners at Cheltenham this season. "I'm definitely not saying it's easier coming to Cheltenham but for these meetings it's no more difficult. Fields aren't necessarily as big as well, it's just as competitive.

"We'll just keep looking for the opportunities. The horses are running well and I suppose we've placed them reasonably well. We've targeted these meetings and it's paid dividends."

La Malmason held off Royale Margaux by three-quarters of a length to score for a first time over fences and Cromwell added: "When she's good she's very good but she's been making novicey mistakes. It's nice to have found our feet and hopefully she'll go on from that."

Future plans

Paul Nicholls pointed to the £75,000 Hampton Novices' Chase as the next target for Ginny's Destiny after his victory in the 2m4½f novice chase.

The Betfair Hurdle could be an option for 2m1f handicap hurdle winner Go Dante, while the Pertemps is under consideration for White Rhino after he recorded a fifth win of the year in the 3m handicap hurdle.

Old star

Cepage recorded his first victory in almost two years as he landed the 2m4½f handicap chase for veterans for Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch.

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