Gordon Elliott goes back a long time with the Earls family from Galway so he was delighted to train them a Grade 1 winner in the shape of Farren Glory, who stayed on stoutly to deny stablemate King Of Kingsfield in the Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Victory didn’t look likely on the turn for home with Farren Glory having spent most of the two-mile journey on the inside rail, and with the eight-runner field grouping right up, space was at a premium. However Jack Kennedy was at his brilliant best to extricate his mount for a clear run and by the second last they had daylight. King Of Kingsfield and Jordan Gainford still looked to hold the initiative at the last but Farren Glory finished strongly on their outside and won a shade cosily at the line.

Elliott’s first ever Cheltenham Festival winner, Chicago Grey in the 2011 National Hunt Chase, was owned by John Earls, and this six-year-old is owned by his brother Michael and nephew Niall, who are behind EasyFix, sponsors at this Winter Festival.

“The trip suited him, it turned into a bit of a slog,” Elliott said. “Jack picked him. I wasn’t sure he was on the right one but he picked him. He’s riding out of his skin. He’s unbelievable.

“He’s going to have to improve again. I wouldn’t say it was the strongest Grade 1 ever but to be fair a few things went wrong in Clonmel, we didn’t want to make the running and we had to so we were hoping for a bit of pace today. He settled in behind the leaders and it worked out brilliant.

“This is back where it started for me. I trained my first ever Cheltenham winner for John Earls, brother of Michael and uncle of Niall who own this lad. It’s great for Michael and Niall and the whole team at EasyFix, they put a lot into racing.

“They sponsored here yesterday, the rubber we are standing on here, all the fences, this is their company. Michael and Niall have bought a couple of good horses with me. We’ve been looking for a good one for a while and we’ve found one.”

Kennedy, recording his 73rd winner this season, was always confident he had his stablemate covered. He said: “I knew the other lad well and I was happy it was him in front of me and not something else. He wouldn't be the best of finishers. My lad was very good. He's still a big baby and he's growing up all the time. Even if you look at him walking back in there, he's a bit nervy.

“He did a lot of things wrong at Clonmel. He was keen and stuff, but the way he won after being so keen meant I knew he was a very good horse.”

Farren Glory was quoted as a general 20/1 shot for the Supreme Novice Hurdle after this success. On his more immediate plans, Elliott said: “Leopardstown might not be the track for him. I wouldn’t be shocked if we travelled over to Britain for one of those Grade 1s but nothing is set in stone.”

On the runner-up King Of Kingsfield, the Meath trainer added: “He ran really well. We had been disappointed with him before. Jordan was kicking himself, he said he was in front too soon. He could win a big one. He’ll be short in a maiden hurdle next time!”