Cheltenham Festival aces Slade Steel and Better Days Ahead go head to head in Navan beginners' chase

Two Cheltenham Festival winners jump fences in public for the first time in the 2m4½f beginners' chase, with Slade Steel and Better Days Ahead locking horns in a four-runner field.

Slade Steel confirmed himself one of the best novice hurdlers around last season with a commanding performance in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, in which he outstayed Mystical Power on soft ground, and this trip could bring about even more improvement. He will prove tough to beat and has the potential to take top rank in the novice chase division.

It was a strong edition of the Martin Pipe that Better Days Ahead won as the first four home pulled 12 lengths clear of the rest. He showed he is up to Grade 1 level when beaten five lengths into third by Dancing City over three miles at Punchestown and is the type to improve over fences.

He has the ability to give Slade Steel plenty to think about but he would probably prefer a bit softer ground.

Trainer Gordon Elliott said: "He won what looked a hot Martin Pipe at Cheltenham. He won a point-to-point and his schooling has been good so you'd like to think he could maybe progress into a Grade 1 horse this season."

Elliott has a spectacular record in the Grade 3 John Lynch Carpets And Flooring Monksfield Novice Hurdle, landing the 2m4f event eight times in total and four times in the last five years, and The Yellow Clay has obvious claims of extending that domination.

The Yellow Clay: one of three potential runners for Gordon Elliott

The Yellow Clay: out to extend Gordon Elliott's fine recordCredit: Patrick McCann

He showed plenty in his bumpers, finishing an unlucky fourth behind Jeroboam Machin at Leopardstown before running with plenty of credit when sixth in the Champion Bumper and runner-up at Punchestown.

The five-year-old made his hurdling debut at Down Royal 16 days ago and bar a mistake three out, he was flawless in easing nine lengths clear and this drop in trip is unlikely to be an issue given he seems to have plenty of gears.

Elliott said: "He did it well at Down Royal and has plenty of pace so the drop in trip shouldn't be a problem."

The Noel Meade-trained Blue Mosque and Fleur In The Park, from the Andy Slattery stable, should provide the sternest opposition. The former is unbeaten in two starts and put in quite a taking performance when winning on her hurdles debut at Cork this month.

Although she was very green, she beat some decent rivals with plenty in hand and has the potential to do much better with further experience, while she also proved she handles good ground.

Fleur In The Park reached a useful level in bumpers and made a winning start over hurdles at Wexford, beating a promising type in Taponthego with the pair pulling well clear. He travelled with plenty of enthusiasm so will need to settle over this longer trip but he is bred to get it and stayed well in his bumpers.

Read our Sunday previews:

1.45 Cheltenham: 'We know he likes Cheltenham' - Peaky Boy and Leader In The Park clash in race with good history

2.30 Navan: 'Jack was very keen to ride him' - American Mike leads Gordon Elliott's 11-strong Troytown team

2.35 Auteuil: Il Est Francais tackles France's King George as star's Kempton claims are tested

2.55 Cheltenham: 'He is the one to back today' - expert analysis and trainer quotes for competitive handicap chase

3.30 Cheltenham: 'This was the plan ever since we got such a nice mark' - key trainer insight for a fascinating Greatwood Hurdle