Navan: Better Days Ahead takes scalp of Slade Steel and the Albert Bartlett has a new favourite on another superb day for Gordon Elliott

The Yellow Clay was installed as the new favourite for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after impressively making it two out of two over hurdles in the Grade 3 Monksfield Novice Hurdle.

The five-year-old, trained by Gordon Elliott, was cut to 12-1 (from 16) by Paddy Power for the three-mile Grade 1 next March and was also shortened to 16-1 (from 25) for the Turners Novices' Hurdle, which was last year run as the Gallagher when won by Ballyburn.

A slight mistake two out was the only hiccup, but he was soon back on the bridle and drew clear in good style under Jack Kennedy after the last. The ten-length winning margin over front-running Where's My Jet was a good measure of his superiority.

Elliott, who was winning this race for a ninth time, said: "Jack said he was very laid-back and he will even have learned from that. What I loved was the way he was quickly back on the bridle when he made a mistake at the second-last.

"He's a nice horse with a big future. That was a good performance. I imagine we'll go for the Grade 1 Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle in January. He has a great attitude and a great way of racing."

Turners Novices' Hurdle (Cheltenham, March 12)
Paddy Power: 8 Jasmin De Vaux, 12 Romeo Coolio, 14 Jalon D'Oudairies, Potters Charm, 16 Kopek Des Bordes, The Yellow Clay, 20 bar

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Cheltenham, March 14)
Coral: 12 The Yellow Clay, 16 Jalon D'Oudairies, Potters Charm, Romeo Coolio, 25 Ballygunner Castle, Kingston Pride, Mister Meggit, Regent's Stroll, Sounds Victorius, 33 bar

Martin Pipe winner Better Days Ahead claimed the scalp of Slade Steel at NavanCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Better jumping the key

After the victories of The Yellow Clay and Stuzzikini in the two feature contests, Gordon Elliott completed a treble and saddled his eighth winner over the two days when Better Days Ahead took the notable scalp of Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Slade Steel in the 2m4½f beginners' chase.

Jack Kennedy rode an excellent tactical race from the front on the second favourite and the quality of his mount's jumping meant Slade Steel was never able to get to him, the margin between them being four lengths.

Elliott said: "He's entered in the Drinmore but that might just come a bit too soon. We'll look at something probably around Christmas. He's a Martin Pipe winner and it's a race that good horses come out of."

Hackett lands big win

Toomevara trainer Ray Hackett must have been close to losing hope that Sequoiaspirit would make the breakthrough over hurdles but, having finished second no fewer than seven times, the seven-year-old finally gained that elusive first success in the €45,000 Tara Handicap Hurdle. A good race to do it in.

Ridden by Liam Quinlan, the 28-1 shot found plenty for pressure to see off topweight Sa Fureur by a length and three-quarters.

Hackett said: "He's a cracking little horse. I was a bit worried about the step up in trip with the ground going, but he saw it out well. We always thought there was a nice race in him over hurdles, but it takes time to get to know him.

"Liam knows him well now. He's only a small horse and you'd think it would be mad going down the inside with him but he thrives on that sort of thing. He gave him some ride.

"We have only ten or 12 in training. We're lucky to have Liam with us. He does all the work and I just show up on the day. A win like this is massive for us. I'm used to tipping away on a Wednesday or a Thursday.

"To be able to come up here at a meeting like this is lovely. It means plenty. This game is hard going. The big operations are getting bigger and the small lads are getting smaller. When you have one that's competitive it's nice."

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