WHEN Answer To Kayf saw off all challengers in the Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle at Naas on Saturday, he provided further reward to the patience and perseverance of Terence O’Brien, his team in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, and owner Denis O’Connor.

The eight-year-old novice hurdler had no run at four, no run at five and just one run at six, finishing second in a point-to-point at Knockmullen House. He was third in a Cork bumper on his track debut early last season and then well beaten in a Killarney bumper, before O’Brien left him off for the summer and took stock.