Tully East was an 8-1 winner of the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Alan Fleming 's charge was produced with a well-timed challenge by Denis O'Regan and galloped all the way to the line to beat Gold Present into second. Two Taffs was third and Powersbomb was fourth.

Fleming said after an incident-packed event: "It is absolutely super, I am so thrilled. I can't tell you how thrilling it is. Denis O'Regan was cool and crisp and is some man to have on the big day.

"It is like an obstacle course out there, but Denis is very clever and was astute to what was going on around him.

"The horse has a lot of a ability. If he gets a clear run he will be very good. I'm not sure how far he will go. I was impressed with the way he jumped today, he was very clever.

"I'm sure he will go to either Fairyhouse or Punchestown. I would love to run him in a Graded race before the end of the season."

He added: "We've had an up-and-down season and there is no point talking rubbish. We've had a stop-start season and this makes up for it a bit."