Morning Soldier leads Sir Allen over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Sir Allen could now be Cheltenham bound, after he claimed the opener at Naas, the Jim Nolan Transport Supporting Kill GAA Rated Novice Hurdle.
Trained by Andy Slattery, the son of Territories was successful on his second hurdles start at Punchestown on New Year's Eve and was sent off a 10/3 chance to follow-up this afternoon.
Settled in second by promising amateur Adam Ryan, who was registering his first win over flights, he improved into a share of the lead approaching two out, but was soon overtaken by the smooth travelling Morning Soldier
Ridden before the final flight, the chestnut victor battled back gamely on the run-in and got to the front inside the final 100 yards, going on to score by a length.
The aforementioned Morning Soldier (11/2 from 16s early) had to settle for second under Danny Mullins for his uncle Tom, while Byker (3/1jfav) was three-parts of a length back in third.
The front-running Jazzy Matty was the other joint-favourite and he finished fourth.
"He probably jumped a bit sticky today, Adam said he was looking at the horses around him," Slattery, who trains the winner for the Eight Star Syndicate, said.
"We gave him a little break after Punchestown and hopefully he'll improve out of that now.
"We'll see what the handicapper does and see if we go for the Boodles, there is also a Grade 3 in Fairyhouse (February 25th).
"We'll see how he is during the week. I think he needs another run for his jumping, he's a good jumper but I just think he's starey.
"The Boodles is run on the inside track and he has stamina, he'd stay two miles on the Flat. A stamina test would suit him but we'll see.
"He'll jump a fence too, he's a good athletic horse.
"I'm happy the way he came up the hill, he doesn't stop and that's a good trait.
"We've never had a runner in Cheltenham before so we'll see. We'll enjoy today and take it from there.
"The handicapper can't be too hard on us because we were all kind of in a bunch there."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
