Patriarch Express takes the cheers.

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Patriarch Express staked his claim for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Festival when just pipping the gambled-on Korelo in a thrilling finish to the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The 8-1 winner took up the running down the back of the track and kept on well to land the spoils by a head, with the runner-up's stablemate Westender taking third, a further eight lengths away.

The 2-1 favourite Crystal D'Ainay came under pressure a long way from home and ran on well without landing a blow, while Royal Rosa disappointed on his seasonal debut after making a horrific mistake at the first flight.

With Patriarch Express not entered for the Cheltenham Festival staying championship race, Yorkshire trainer Sue Smith said she would have to discuss supplementing him with the owner.

She told Racing UK: ``I'll speak to Mr Muir and see what he wants to do. Obviously it's a possibility, but there's Liverpool as well.

``We didn't enter him because we thought we'd stick to going to Liverpool. It's very difficult to go from Cheltenham to Liverpool.

``He's done his job really well today. He has been an absolute star since he came to us. Next season he'll go novice chasing.''