The J.P. McManus owned Minella Till Dawn earned an antepost quote for the Cheltenham festival next March following his win in the Great Packages At Fairyhouse Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse today, for trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Mark Walsh.

The 5/4 second favourite and son of Shantou raced prominently throughout and in the end went past leader Castlegrace Paddy after the last, to score a length win over that rival with a further length and a half back to third placed Al Boum Photo

Paddy Power later introduced the winner at 25/1 for the Neptune Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and Elliott also commented “he's a lovely, big chasing type but he's still a baby, and is very raw and green.

“We will keep it small with him for the moment.”

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee