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Classy grey picks up Grade One honours at Leopardstown – and books Ballymore ticket.

Gaillard Du Mesnil  got favourite-backers off to a flying start at this year's Dublin Racing Festival with a clear-cut victory in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors '50k Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff' Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.

An impressive winner at the track over the Christmas period, the Willie Mullins-trained grey was the 13-8 market leader to successfully step up in distance and class for this two-mile-six-furlong Grade One contest.

Having travelled strongly in midfield for much of the race under Paul Townend, Gaillard Du Mesnil moved into the slipstream of his front-running stablemate Stattler early in the home straight, before taking over on the approach to the final flight.

The five-year-old never looked in danger of being caught from that point – galloping all the way to the line to score by five lengths, with Gentlemansgame pipping Stattler to the runner-up spot.

Betfair cut the winner to 7-2 from 13-2 for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

"That was a nice start," said Mullins.

"He was very keen and I thought he was going to pay the penalty, but it shows how big an engine he has that he was able to still find more after it looking like Danny (Mullins, on Stattler) had stole the race.

"It was a nice victory in the end and he must be a fair sort to come from that far back in that type of contest.

"The Ballymore would look the race for him at this point. It was a tremendous staying performance in what looked a real quality field."

Of Stattler, he added: "He was was very good and Danny gave him a well-judged ride from the front.

"That puts him in line for the Albert Bartlett and hopefully Ronnie (Bartlett, owner) can win some of his own money back!"