Etendard Indien clears the last.

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Nicky Henderson introduced a live candidate for the JCB Triumph Hurdle when Etendard Indien landed the odds on his British debut at Kempton Park on Friday.

Winner of a Group Three event for Andre Fabre last September, the 10-11 favourite made all under Mick Fitzgerald to win the CiSTM Racing Club Juvenile Novices' Hurdles by 12 lengths from Reservoir.

Etendard Indien was more or less foot-perfect throughout, although he stuttered into the final flight when already having the contest in safe keeping.

The bookmakers were as impressed with the performance as Henderson, with Victor Chandler cutting him into 10-1 from 20s for Cheltenham, while Paddy Power go 12-1 (from 20s).

Henderson is keen to give the winner another outing before the Festival.

He said: "He jumped really well. He has a very high action which tells me he would like the soft, but I am not sure he won't be just as good on faster ground.

"We have done plenty of schooling with him and as he's still a colt we had to keep practising, but he seems to have got the hang of it and we know he will stay."

Henderson has not yet decided on which port of call Etendard Indien will make before the Triumph, but he added: "I am sure Cheltenham will suit him."