Slade Steel was an impressive winner of the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle as the 2024 Cheltenham Festival got under way.

Trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore, the 7-2 chance travelled in the middle of the field and stalked the leaders before mounting a challenge on the turn for home.

Then he began to pick off the horses ahead of him and jumped into the lead before accelerating again up the hill when strongly challenged by Mystical Power, taking top honours by a length and a half.

“I’m delighted with him, Rachael gave him a super ride and fair play to the Robcour team – they said Ballyburn has beaten us twice and we need to just avoid him, so that’s what we did and it’s worked out really well for us,” said De Bromhead.

Henry de Bromhead’s Slade Steel continued to impress with a neat victory in the Tote Navan Novice Hurdle.

The Robcour-owned five-year-old was a point-to-point and bumper winner who made a taking start to his career over obstacles when winning a Naas maiden by five and a half lengths in November.

This was a step up to Grade Two level under Rachael Blackmore and the gelding proved himself worthy of the task with a tough half-length win from Lecky Watson at 2-1.

“I’m delighted with that, it was tough work,” said De Bromhead.

“We’d always hoped he’d be a better horse on nicer ground, he’d definitely have a preference for it, so it’s great to see him get through that and get the job done.

“Rachael was happy and said he idled a little bit in front. He’s progressing which is lovely.

“I don’t think he needs to go up to an extreme distance, he’s got plenty of gears and he won a bumper well.”

As for next steps for the bay, De Bromhead added: “There is the Dublin Racing Festival, although you might have to drop back or go up further there.

“We’ll see, we’ll enjoy today as that was a good race to win today. We’ll discuss it and see what everyone would like to do.”