Jeroboam Machin leapt to the forefront of antepost lists for next months Cheltenham bumper when running out a decisive four-and-a-quarter length winner of the concluding Grade 2 Donohue Marquees Future Stars(C & G) I.N.H Flat Race at Leopardstown.

A winner of his racecourse debut at Fairyhouse in November, the Emmet Mullins trained gelding retained his unbeaten record when leading inside the last two furlongs before powering clear of some smart rivals.

Emmet Mullins said:- “He's a nice horse and he definitely saves his best for the track.

“Watching him working the last few weeks wouldn't inspire anyone. I said after his first bumper that he doesn't show much at home but anytime we bring him away he lights up.

“I don't mind what he does at home once he saves his best for the track.”

When asked about him hanging in front he added:- “That's him and I don't know if it will ever come out of him, he wouldn't do anything on his own.

“He'd come up with a 90 horse as quick as a 140 horse, that's just him. I'm just glad he's got that bit of class and ability.

“He worked with Slate Lane that went and won at Haydock in a £125,000 race. He'll come up with whatever we put him with at home but we don't over-face him.

“Paul (Byrne) gives me a bit of rein, I picked him out of a point-to-point.

“It was an auction point-to-point and it probably wasn't that sexy for most people to buy out of but I just loved the way he did it. He winged the last on that occasion and hopefully he could go on to better things over jumps.”

When asked if he could go to Cheltenham he said:- “Well we came in the right-hand side of the parade ring instead of the left-side today so we could go either way!”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson.

Paddy Power went 11-4f(from 14/1) about Jeroboam Machin for the Cheltenham bumper.