Fergal O'Brien admits to getting 'sucked into the hype' around Greatwood Hurdle favourite Dysart Enos as he eyes new target

Fergal O'Brien says he regrets getting "sucked into the hype" around his Greatwood Hurdle favourite Dysart Enos and is looking forward to a potential rematch with Burdett Road and Be Aware.

Dysart Enos was labelled "the best-handicapped horse in Britain and Ireland" by the Racing Post's Upping The Ante presenter David Jennings, and O'Brien admitted he was buoyed by the confidence surrounding the mare, who was a strong ante-post fancy for the lucrative handicap before being sent off 85-40 favourite.

She closed up to the winner Burdett Road around the home bend at Cheltenham under Johnny Burke, but could not get to grips with the front-runner and then had to concede second to the running-on Be Aware.

"I was probably a bit disappointed because I got sucked into the hype, which I don't normally do," said O'Brien. "Everyone was telling me how well handicapped she was, and she probably was, but Burdett Road was probably even better handicapped.

"I definitely wouldn't be afraid to take on Burdett Road and Be Aware again, because I think she'll improve. I was a bit deflated straight after the run because she was in great form but, when you look back at it, she did a lot wrong and was very keen.

"Burdett Road is a very good horse. If we ran in Graded races he'd be giving us 7lb, but he gave us 2lb and beat us only three and a half lengths. If you do the Flat-to-jumps equation, then he's a 149 horse."

Dysart Enos: still has untapped potential in handicap hurdlesCredit: Alan Crowhurst

O'Brien was pleased with numerous aspects of Dysart Enos's performance and is already targeting another valuable 2m handicap hurdle at Ascot on December 21, before a mares' conditions race at the same track on January 18.

"There were so many positives," he said. "She jumped well at speed, because she didn't jump great at slower paces last season, and she travelled probably a bit too well, but she hadn't run in ten months, so that was to be expected.

"Johnny was aware Harry Cobden was having a bit of a freebie in front, and we'd have liked something else to have gone after him so we could have played our cards a bit later. That's probably cost us second."

O'Brien also saddled the fourth home Tintintin, and added: "I was delighted with him. He was third in the Swinton and he just turns up and does his job. I'm sure he's crying out for a bit further. Jack [Hogan] felt he was flat out the whole way, but he came up the hill really well."

Dysart Enos is priced at 12-1 and 100-1 respectively for the Mares' Hurdle and Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

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