Kelly picks Ballymore for Decor Irlandais

Noel Kelly has confirmed that Decor Irlandais goes for the Grade 1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The seven-year-old gelding was last seen finishing a close second in a Grade 2 at Warwick earlier this month.

On his penultimate start, he availed of a cool ride from Noel McParlan as the pair came from another parish to win cosily in a novices' hurdle at Catterick before Christmas.

Kelly said: "He has to be ridden cold and that's how he won his (three) point-to-points.

"He goes straight for the two mile five novice at Cheltenham (Ballymore).

"He will be my first runner at the festival and it will be some day out for the owners. We'll be trying to get some place money."