Henry De Bromhead's Journey With Me continued his path towards the Cheltenham Festival with a win in the Connolly's Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle at Naas.
The six-year-old is up at the top of the betting for Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham next month and was sent off the 4-11 favourite to make it two out of two over hurdles.
A victory over Gordon Elliott's Minella Crooner in his first win provided the impetus for the favouritism but a slow pace meant that Rachael Blackmore had to take matters into her own hands.
Journey With Me outpaced the well-regarded O'Toole and then took the fight to Choice Of Words and Pinkerton, who were still travelling well.
The second-last saw Journey With Me pull away but Choice Of Words at least made it a contest.
The winning distance was three lengths, with De Bromhead's charge now as low as 7-2 for the Ballymore.
"We're happy with that. We just said we'd sit him in and see if he'd be happy enough to settle away as he's always making it," said De Bromhead.
"In a normal race he would have been, but after half a mile Rachael had to go on. He was good, still a bit green in front, but I'm happy with him.
"Obviously further will suit him, I hope. Nothing is set in stone but I'd say, in my head, I'd be going for the Ballymore. That's two-five."
