Bardenstown Lad is to be tested for his Cheltenham potential in the bet365 Scottish Stayers' Novices' Hurdle at Musselburgh on Saturday.

County Meath handler John McConnell has Mahler Mission entered for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Festival following his Grade 2 success at Doncaster on Saturday and is hoping Bardenstown Lad can join him on March 18.

The seven-year-old Black Sam Bellamy gelding is said to be in good nick ahead of his first appearance since winning a novice event over three miles at Cheltenham in October.

"He's good. He's entered in Musselburgh at the weekend and will go there - a three-mile novice hurdle at the festival going on there," said County Meath-based McConnell.
"He's in good form and hopefully he'll go to Cheltenham after that. He'll go for the Albert Bartlett - he's a three-miler."

Gordon Elliott's Where It All Began, winner of a maiden hurdle at Tramore, is a second Irish possible among the seven entries for the Class 2 bet365 Scottish Stayers' Novices' Hurdle at Musselburgh.

Martin Keighley's Brorson and the Donald McCain-trained Silver Flyer are putting up the British defence.