Cheltenham Festival | WEEKEND REVIEW: Former Prestbury Park hero Knight Salute shortens to 12-1 for Gloucestershire glory

Milton Harris confirmed Knight Salute was on course for the Triumph Hurdle after he landed the Adonis at Kempton Park on Saturday afternoon to maintain his unbeaten record over timber.

The former Andrew Balding-trained gelding saw off fellow leading British juvenile Porticello when last seen at Doncaster before proving too strong for another Gary Moore contender in Sunbury-on-Thames under Paddy Brennan.

And while the Irish contingent continues to dominate the head of the market, Harris is confident his representative will do himself justice at Prestbury Park next month.

He told the Racing Post: “I was enormously satisfied with that.

“He had a little cough and a splutter ten days ago, but he worked like a demon on Tuesday, which he doesn’t normally do.

“The Irish horses are all talented but some have been beaten and we haven’t. He should be suited by better ground. I’m not sure we’ll beat them but they’ll have a race from the last. He’ll work a few more times but he doesn’t do a lot.”

Brennan, who has partnered the son of Sir Percy to his last three successes, said: “He’s probably the quickest horse I’ve ridden over hurdles – he’s so accurate. If you were to time him from one side of a hurdle to the other, he’s very quick.

“He stays very well and Cheltenham suits him. While the Triumph looks competitive, we know he’ll go and perform.”

At Fairyhouse, the Willie Mullins gelding Icare Allen moved into 9-1 for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle after a facile success in the Normal Colfer Winning Fair under Mark Walsh.

Closutton, remarkably, have never landed this race since its inception back in 2005, but Ireland have taken the last four renewals.