Macs Charm continued his rapid improvement this year by completing a hat-trick in the Bar One Racing Sign Up Offer For Cheltenham Handicap Hurdle at Naas.

The Colm Murphy-trained gelding went up a total of 21lb for previous wins over two and a half miles at Navan and Gowran and is set for another hike from the handicapper after an impressive victory here over 2m3f. Minx Tiara set the pace and had most of her rivals well stretched early in the straight.

However, Macs Charm made steady headway to reel her in soon after the last and the 9/4 favourite drew clear under Brian Hayes to score by four-and-three-quarter lengths.

Festival D’ex kept on well in the closing stages to take the runner-up spot, with Minx Tiara tiring in the closing stages a further 11 lengths adrift in third.

Murphy said, “He’s strengthened up this year and is just a different horse. We might look at nice handicaps now at some of the Festivals coming up.

“He could go on any ground and I would say the better the ground the further we will go. He stays and he’s tough.”