National Hunt handicapper Mark Bird has hailed the performances of Final Demand and Kopek Des Bordes at Leopardstown last weekend as “top drawer” and confirmed that both novice hurdlers have achieved enough on paper to win their respective races at Cheltenham under normal circumstances.

Last Saturday Final Demand won the Grade 1 novice hurdle over two miles and six furlongs by 12 lengths and is being aimed at the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.