Trainer Mags Mullins expects her Cheltenham Festival hero Martello Tower to raise his game for the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park on Thursday.

A determined winner of last season's Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Prestbury Park, the eight-year-old was not disgraced on his first start since when third in Leopardstown's Christmas Hurdle last month.

Mullins feels her charge should strip fitter for that run and hopes he can earn himself a return trip to Cheltenham for a crack at World Hurdle glory in March.

"I was delighted with him at Leopardstown. It was a lovely run, as he would have needed it and I think he's come on since," the trainer told At The Races.

"He's improved from the last day, so hopefully he's improved enough. It's not a bad race and racing in open class is a bit different, so we'll know more after Thursday.

"He's won on soft and nice ground. If he holds his own, that will be good enough."

Martello Tower is opposed by four rivals and has ground to make up on Christmas Hurdle runner-up Alpha Des Obeaux trained by Mouse Morris.

Morris said: "He's in good form. The only worry I would have for him would be the ground - he's a good ground horse really.

"We need to get some more experience into him as he hasn't had a lot of runs.

"If he runs a good, solid race I'll be happy."