Byker (9/1) entered festival calculations following his Cheltenham Trials Day At Naas Maiden Hurdle win today, scoring for trainer Charles Byrnes, his son jockey Philip Byrnes and the Relicpride Co Ltd Partnership.

A neat 25,000gns purchase last October having won on the flat for trainer Richard Hannon, Byker today returned a Betfair S.P. of 25 (24/1) in the 21-runner race, before racing prominently and beating runner-up Mighty Mo Missouri comfortably.

Byrnes said “he's a lovely fine big horse, had a nice run in Limerick and came forward from that. We were hopeful today but there was so much word for a few others that we were getting worried.

“He was in the right place all the time and looked a winner a long way out.”

Regarding a possible Boodles Fred Winter Hurdle tilt, he added “he could go but he'd need another run, that was only his second run and he needs three runs. We won't rule it out.”

Quotes from Gary Carson