Gwencily Berbas is set to line up in the Fred Winter instead of the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Barry Connell-owned four-year-old was a winner at Auteuil in his homeland, prompting connections to give him Festival engagements, and he could not have been more impressive on his first start for trainer Alan Fleming in a Grade Two at Fairyhouse last weekend.

Connell and Fleming were waiting for the British handicapper's assessment of the performance before committing to a target and now he has been handed a mark of 139, he is set to go down the handicap route in the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle on the Wednesday of Cheltenham.

Fleming said: " He'll go for the Fred Winter. I'm nearly 100 per cent sure."

Connell added: "He's been given a nice mark for the Fred Winter so that's where we're going to go."