Ferns Lock put himself firmly in the picture for Cheltenham with a comprehensive victory in the concluding hunters chase at Thurles.

The seven-year-old gelding is clearly a very talented sort as evidenced by beating Billaway by 20 lengths in this race last year. He also took the Tetratema in Gowran Park by a healthy three and a-half lengths last season.

He was just touched off in the hunters chase at Down Royal on St Stephen's Day, but went one better by making all for Barry O'Neill. Romeo Magico (10/3) tried to keep the leader in this sights, but was clearly outgunned before the last and wert down by eight lengths. He was five and a-half lengths in front of third-placer Wowsham (6/1).

Davy Christie said: "He had to give away 7lb and 10lb, and in that ground that is very tough. The only time he has run on nice ground was here last year and, while everyone thinks he is a big strong horse who likes soft, he is a beautiful mover who wants better ground.

"After finishing races on heavy ground last year, he would make a palate noise but it was nothing major so we put on a tongue-tie as a safeguard. On nicer ground he wouldn't really need it, but I'll leave it on as he is happy and relaxed with it.

"Cheltenham is his goal, he is coming on all the time and I'm hoping he'd step up from that again now. 

"He has an awful size of an engine but is very immature although is learning in every race. We'll build for Cheltenham now."

Paddy Power have Ferns Lock 11/4 favourite from 4/1 for the hunters' chase at Cheltenham.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes