Corbetts Cross causes a stir

Corbetts Cross stylishly strengthened his Cheltenham credentials at Naas yesterday with success in the Grade two Johnstown Novice Hurdle.

Dropping in distance to the minimum trip on his debut for new connections, the emmet Mullins-trained gelding saw off the much vaunted Found A Fifty under Donagh Myler despite having won over three miles for former handler eugene o’sullivan on his previous start at Fairyhouse.

bookmakers Paddy Power were significantly impressed, cutting the six-year- old to 6-1 second favourite for the Grade one Albert bartlett Novices Hurdle on the final day of the festival next month and his trainer believes there is still plenty of improvement to come. ‘We have only had him a short period of time at home, and it is a big learning curve, but he has showed plenty,’ said Mullins.

‘I mentioned the horse to Paul byrne, his owner, a year ago and we’ve managed to do some business with eugene (previous trainer eugene o’sullivan).

‘He is very versatile and very promising, and Cheltenham is on the horizon for him.

‘the ground will be the key to him going forward and if it isn’t suitable at Cheltenham he won’t go. Gordon’s horse (Found A Fifty) has a big reputation and is a very good horse in his own right so to beat him is encouraging.’

Mullins also issued an upbeat bulletin regarding Gold Cup hopeful Noble Yeats, currently 7-1 second favourite with Paddy Power for the blue riband event. ‘He is in great order and fingers crossed will enjoy a clean run in the lead up to Cheltenham,’ said Mullins.

‘We have turned a few screws with him recently, but he will tell us what he needs before the Gold Cup.’

• OUR POWER will be targeted at the ultima Handicap Chase on day one of the festival following his determined success in saturday’s Coral trophy at Kempton. trainer sam thomas said: ‘He would have run in the Ladbrokes trophy at Newbury, but he had a little setback, and we had no other option but to train him for Kempton, which is a fantastic race in itself.’