Ballybow Albert Bartlett bound after taking Clonmel Grade 3

Ballybow booked his ticket for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham next month when coming out best in what proved a tactical renewal of the Grade 3 Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel.

The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding, who took a Naas maiden in good style last month, set a steady pace from chief market rival Ballygunner Castle with 125/1 outsider of three Kalnoo keeping close company until early in the straight.

The two principals really set down to race from the penultimate flight and Sam Ewing’s mount kept on well on the run-in to hold off his rival by half-a-length.

Kalnoo finished 23 lengths back in third picking up €3,500 and some valuable black type.

Elliott said, "To be honest if I was Sam, I’d have followed Ballygunner Castle instead of him following us, and pushed him along. They went no gallop though and it was a no-race, really so that's why he is riding them.

"They quickened over the last two, but the one thing I do like about our horse, from the second-last to the line - even after the last - he dropped his head and showed a good attitude.

“We’ll go for the Albert Bartlett now. I think the race could suit him, and he could have an each-way chance in a race like that, with a lead, coming at a few horses.”

Betfair and Paddy Power cut the winner into 20/1(from 25/1) for the Albert Bartlett, and he is a 16/1 chance in the NRMB (NonRunnerMoneyBack) market.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes