Racing: O’Brien on knife-edge

Knife Edge will have one more run before taking on Britain’s best two-mile chasers at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The seven-year-old’s trainer, Michael O’Brien, confirmed that his charge will head to Naas for the Newlands Chase on February 24 before going on to the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Knife Edge, a 10-1 chance for the two-mile championship with William Hill, has won his last three races over fences, most recently beating Alcapone by three lengths in a Grade Three contest at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Originally trained in Newmarket by Sir Michael Stoute for his brief career on the Flat, the son of Kris S was a high-class hurdler who was beaten less than nine lengths when third to Istabraq in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown two years ago.

‘‘He’s going for the Champion Chase after Naas,’’ O’Brien said. ‘‘I am expecting heavy ground at Naas at that time of the year but I’d hope he will be fine on anything at Cheltenham.’’