Harry Fry is considering a trip to Punchestown with Minella Awards following the gelding's victory in the EBF Matchbook VIP "National Hunt" Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final at Sandown.

The six-year-old, who was sporting the same silks as the stable's leading Cheltenham Festival hope Neon Wolf, opened his account on his fourth start under Rules in this Grade Three contest.

Minella Awards was under pressure from a long way out, but the 8-1 chance picked off Crystal Lad towards the last flight and then gamely held off Prime Venture by a length and a quarter.

Fry said: "It's a great way to lose his maiden tag.

"Noel Fehily was just brilliant, and it is just as well he was.

"We were writing him off turning out of the back, but Noel knows where the winning post is.

"To the credit of the horse, he picked up in the straight and kept on finding.

"We had campaigned him to qualify for this race. We knew he would be better in the spring.

"Hopefully he can go on from this and have fun later in the season.

"I suppose we could look at Aintree and Punchestown, even.

"He is more likely to go to Punchestown."