Gold Medallist clears the last flight.

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Hills clipped Gold Medallist to 3/1 (from 5/1) favourite for the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival after his effortless 18-length victory from three rivals in the extended three-mile totesport.com Novices' Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday.

Richard Johnson made all the running on the five-year-old on ground that was perhaps stickier than he would have appreciated.

The performance of the 2/7 favourite was not particularly impressive and he blew a bit afterwards, suggesting he may have needed the run.

Winning trainer Philip Hobbs confirmed: "I am very pleased. Richard got off and said that three miles in this tacky ground is not perhaps ideal, but he can do no more than win easily.

"He had a minor setback after his run at Exeter and missed a bit of time with a corn. Last weekend, the question we were asking was would he be ready in time for this race?

"There is a two-and-a-half-mile novice hurdle at Cheltenham in a fortnight and I think the experience of the track might not be a bad thing. It is definitely a possibility. He may just have needed this race today."