Balla Sola booked his ticket for the Elite Racing Club Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham next month when landing the odds in the opening Esat Digifone Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding, a four-time winner on the flat and rated 99 at the end of last season, put in a fine round of jumping on his debut over timber.

Ruby Walsh, now on the 66 winner mark, sent the favourite to the front before the home turn, and he came home on a tight rein to beat Electric Isle by nine lengths.

"I am delighted with that performance and he will now go straight to Cheltenham," said Mullins, who believes his charge would be suited by better ground.

Jessica Harrington also harbours Cheltenham Festival hopes for Ferbet Junior, who routed his five rivals in the £25,000 Esat Digifone Kinloch Brae Chase. The six-year-old made all under Jason Titley, and built up a clear advantage after three out to score by 20 lengths from Opera Hat.

However, the French-bred gelding will revert to hurdles at the Cotswolds, where he will be entered for the County Hurdle and the Coral Cup.

Dixon Varner will be entered, along with Elegant Lord, for the Christies Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham after justifying prohibitive odds in the Oscar and Dr Massini Hunters' Chase.

Philip Fenton's mount, who will only travel to the Festival if the ground is testing, shrugged off the challenge of Connys Hope after two out for a very easy 14-length win.

Notcomplainingbut survived a stewards inquiry after beating Palette by two and a half lengths - the first two bumped on touching down after the last - in the Tattersalls Ireland EBF Mares' Novice Chase (Qualifier). Paddy Mullins will enter the eight-yearold for the final of this series at Uttoxeter next month.

Paul Carberry is six behind Ruby Walsh on the 60 mark after partnering a double aboard Roses Of Picardy and Storming Ahead.

Roses Of Picardy was prominent throughout for a comfortable three-length victory over Saxaphone in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle, while Storming Ahead benefitted from the exit of Davids Lad, who slipped up before the last, to take the Rory McLoughney Esat Digifone Handicap Hurdle.

Altibr spearheaded a four-timer for jockey Richard Hills with a 10-length victory in the second round of the Maktoum Challenge at Nad Al Sheba last night. Frankie Dettori had to settle for the runner-up spot aboard Playacting.