Fundamentalist (12-1) confirmed the huge potential he has shown with a gallant success in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle on day two at Cheltenham 2004.

The scopey Supreme Leader gelding was always travelling well in the 2m5f contest and Carl Llewellyn brought him with a well-timed run to take up the initiative at the second last.

He swung for home with a handy advantage but a roar went up from the crowd as 7-4 favourite Inglis Drever went in hot pursuit of the leader.

Fundamentalist produced a slightly scruffy jump at the last but still had the momentum to fight off his nearest pursuer up the run-in bravely by half a length.

Grey Report kept on well to take third at 25-1.

Inglis Drever was not travelling with quite his usual fluency when the pace quickened at the top of the hill and made a mistake at the second-last.

Fundamentalist took it up at the same flight as the valiant Grey Report gave way.

The mistake at the last gave Inglis Drever's supporters renewed hope, but he could not quite get there as Llewellyn recorded his first Festival success for four years.

Second favourite Sadlers Wings ran a strange race, being detached in the early stages before making progress and having every chance with two to jump.

"I got to the front a bit too soon and I thought I might be caught up the hill, but once the other horse got to him he picked up again a little bit," Llewellyn said.

Twiston-Davies said: "He's still quite green. He doesn't jump hurdles very well. He's looking for something bigger, and I hope he'll be even better when he goes jumping fences.

"He's a nice horse and the exciting thing is that he can only keep improving."

Howard Johnson, trainer of the runner-up, said: "I think a bit softer ground would have helped him, but the main thing is that he has come back in one piece.

"We will have to see whether he goes to Aintree. I will have a word with Graham (Wylie) in a fortnight's time, but the horse will know he's had a race today and he'll want three weeks off, anyway.

"He's pulled a shoe off from his off-fore, so that hasn't helped him, but I think in another 200 yards he would have got there.

"Graham (Lee, rider) said he could not get as good a position as he wanted as he was having to niggle him."

The big-spending Wylie added: "He stayed on well. I am not disappointed at all. This is my first visit to Cheltenham and to come here and have a second in a race like this is a terrific experience.

"I knew if he was thereabouts at the last he would have a chance, and he ran right to the line. There was not quite enough juice in the ground for him."

"Richard (Johnson) gave him a breather at the top of the hill and he then just ran on. He is just wonderful and he's had a lovely season."