Facile victory for Nickname

Naas Report: A trio of Grade Two races at Naas yesterday provided probably the last significant trials for Cheltenham in two weeks' time but the "wait and see" attitude of the Nickname team towards the festival seemed to catch on with everyone else too.

Nicknameduly won the Paddy Power Newlands Chase in the style expected of a 1 to 4 favourite and afterwards, his trainer, Martin Brassil, had no reason to change his script about the necessity of at least soft ground if Nickname is to run in the Holidays Seasons Queen Mother Champion Chase.

"It's all about the ground and we probably won't decide until about three days before it," Brassil said following an ultra-smooth 12-length defeat of the novice Gemini Lucy. "It's a privilege to have a horse like him, though, whatever happens," he added.

"We've been very happy with him all this season. They went a bit steady there today and then quickened up but he did it well."

Most bookmaker reaction was to leave Nickname at a general 7 to 1 odds for the two-mile championship, although Boylesports apparently saw enough yesterday to cut the ex-French star to 5 to 1.

The same firm make Kazalan 8 to 1 shot for the Brit Insurances Novices' Hurdle at the festival after Eoin Griffin's prolific winner battled with typical tenacity for Barry Geraghty to beat Callherwhatulike in the Johnstown Hurdle.

Griffin gave an upbeat report on the Triumph favourite Lounaos afterwards but sounded much cooler, however, on the chances of Kazal making Cheltenham. "I'm not overly mad on going there to be honest. I don't think the ground will be soft enough for him. We will look at it closer to the time but all the boxes will need to be ticked," he said. "Having said that, if it is soft, then the three miles and the uphill finish in the Brit will be ideal."

Lounaos, for her part, pleased her trainer in a weekend work-out and will have another before definitely going to Cheltenham. "I don't think the ground will be an issue with her now," Griffin said. "She is in serious order and is really impressing me."

There is no chance whatever of Benefit Nightmaking any trip across the water this spring as an all-the-way success in the Nas Na Riogh Chase brought the curtain down on his campaign.

"He's earned nearly €50,000 so we will leave him alone for the year and come back for the soft ground again in the autumn," declared Mitchelstown trainer Danny O'Sullivan.

Benefit Night put in some spectacular leaps for Brave Inca's former jockey Barry Cash and O'Sullivan added: "It's great for Barry who gave him a super ride."

The favourite, Schindlers Hunt, appeared to be struggling to come to terms with Benefit Night when falling at the last.

The lukewarm approach to the festival continued after the bumper won by the favourite Bootlegger.

Hairy Molly won the race last year before landing the Festival Bumper but trainer Tom Mullins said: "I don't know about Cheltenham. It might not suit him. He is a very good horse, though, and he'll be much better with a jump in front of him. He might not have the scope for chasing but he is good, and he likes that ground."

One horse definitely travelling to Cheltenham will be Maralanwhose colourful trainer Oliver Brady immediately announced the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle as his plan for a first festival victory.

Co Monaghan-based Brady's brave battle with cancer will only have been helped by Maralan's smooth display in the handicap hurdle yesterday and he was in characteristically bullish form afterwards. "He had to win today to make sure he got into the County and if we get 10st 7lb in the race, he's a moral certainty!" Brady announced.

Nickname's jockey, Ruby Walsh, had earlier won the maiden hurdle on the favourite Heavenly Bluesbut later took a heavy fall from Jazz Alley in the three-mile handicap that was ultimately won in easy fashion by Lotomore Lad.

• Martin Brassil was delighted with Numbersixvalverde's eye-catching fourth in Saturday's Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse and rates Nil Desperandum, winner of Saturday's Eider Chase at Newcastle, as a big danger to Numbersixvalverde's bid for a repeat John Smith's Grand National success.