Mengli Khan is firmly at the top table of novice hurdlers seen so far this season after taking the Grade 1 Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle in convincing fashion at Fairyhouse.

The Gigginstown-owned son of Lope De Vega tracked the pace set by stable-companion Morgan and struck the front soon after two out.

The evens favourite took control before the final flight, and stayed on well under Jack Kennedy to beat Early Doors by five and a half lengths with a further gap of 15 lengths to Hardline in third.

Early Doors ran with plenty of credit considering he made a mess of the second last and was also untidy at the last, while Makitorix spoiled his chance with a blunder four out.

Mengli Khan wins the Grade 1 @BarOneRacing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle! @Fairyhouse pic.twitter.com/5RGU2L9Kuo

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 3, 2017

Winning trainer Gordon Elliott said, “I was disappointed with him last year and said we’d keep him as a novice for this season. He could be a better horse on better ground and is a two-miler which we don’t have too many of. Gigginstown buy big three-mile chasers but it’s nice to have a few of them as well.

“We will probably have a look at something over Christmas but we’ll get him home after today and make sure he’s in one piece. He’ll stick to two miles, and if everything stays right we have a few nice horses for each of the categories.

“He’s a big horse and Hugo Palmer did some job to get him to the track as a two-year-old. With the ear plugs on today he nearly switched off too much but he’s a good horse and is learning all the time.”

Kennedy said, “He was very good. He settled and jumped great. When I got upsides Mark Walsh going to the second last he picked up and went on well from there. I was always very confident on him, he's a good horse.”

Mengli Khan is clear favourite for the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham with Paddy Power going 6/1 (from 12/1), while Boylesports and Betfair both go 7/1.

(AM & GC)