Corbetts Cross, left, beats Found A Fifty by a head© Photo Healy Racing
Rapidly-improving Corbetts Cross came home best to win a duel with Found A Fifty in the Grade 2 Johnstown Novice Hurdle.
He won his last two starts for Eugene O'Sullivan in staying contests in a maiden hurdle at Limerick over Christmas and a handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse in January.
He then switched to Emmet Mullins who dropped him in trip to an extended 1m7f.
The Gamut gelding raced in third before improving to second at the penultimate flight. He had Found A Fifty in his sights and stayed on well on the run-in to nab him close home.
The 7/4 chance got up by a head under Donagh Meyler from the 11/10 favourite.
Mullins said: "It was a nice performance. I'd say it was a good race, two nice horses and he's a very nice horse.
“He showed a great attitude, but I suppose it's nothing we didn't know. He's been a very good horse all season for Maxine and Eugene (O'Sullivan).
“Paul (Byrne, owner) said that has possibly opened up a few more avenues and he said he's open to some supplementary entries.”
When asked if the Albert Bartlett would be on the cards he added:- “That's just one option, Paul is very keen to explore all avenues.
“He could go anywhere and he might not even go to Cheltenham if the ground didn't come up right. He'll be given every option and we'll take it from there. He's versatile.
“Once it's safe ground, he's a big horse and is still a novice. The way we are thinking, there are going to be plenty more big days ahead of us and we won't run him on fast ground this season.”
When asked about dropping back in trip he said:- “He's shown gears and he jumped straight into it at home from the word go.
“He's just a very good horse, that's what we were told we were buying when we were getting him. It's been good business.
“It shows the quality of horse that we are dealing with, to be able to mix over three miles the last day and two miles on faster ground today.
“He's a high-quality animal and it's very exciting looking forward to the future.
“They didn't hang about there, they went a good gallop the whole way. He's no slouch.
“It was a fair performance and the second is held in high regard."
On the long-term prospect of chasing he said: “It's the old cliché and half the time it never materialises.
“He has point-to-point form and comes from a good school in the O'Sullivans. Eugene's are all old-fashioned chasers and he has plenty of jumping done over fences.
“That's what he was bought for and hopefully next season could be a big season for him.”
Paddy Power cut Corbetts Cross from 8/1 to 6/1 (non runner money back) for the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
