Marasonnien looks set to be part of Willie Mullins' strong Cheltenham Festival team after justifying odds-on favouritism in the opening INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle over two miles and three furlongs at Naas.

Paul Townend sent the “jolly” to the head of affairs turning into the straight, and those who made him the 4/7 favourite had their only moment of worry when he hit the last quite hard.

However the French-bred gelding soon got going again to hold off long-time leader Chasing Shadows (16/1) by two and a quarter lengths. Kates Benefit well-supported from 13/2 into 9/2, was a further half length back in third.

Mullins said, “I think he wants a longer trip, and two and a half miles or two and three quarters will be no trouble to him.

“I'd imagine he'll get an entry in the Neptune and the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, and I don't know if he'd run again between now and then.”

Marssonnien has been introduced at 50/1 with Stan James for the Neptune but is just 20/1 with Sean Graham.