Essex (left) gallops to Newbury glory.

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Essex consolidated Ireland's ante-post grip on the Smurfit Champion Hurdle when landing a gamble in the totesport Trophy at Newbury on Saturday.

Followed on his journey from trainer Michael O'Brien's stables near the Curragh by a partisan crowd of supporters, Essex was given a welcome reminiscent of a winner at the Cheltenham Festival after his superb triumph.

The five-year-old, already winner of the valuable Pierse Hurdle, beat Bongo Fury and Al Eile by three lengths and a head under Barry Geraghty.

The 4-1 favourite had been backed at 7-1 to complete the big handicap double after his Leopardstown victory last month, and now his attention is to be focused on the Champion, for which both Coral and Hills cut him into 12-1 from 25s. Ladbrokes go 14-1 from 33s.

Totesport go 12-1 from 25-1 and their spokesman Damian Walker said: "Essex was in another county and deserves a crack at the Champion Hurdle after this effort.

"He travels so well in his races and it is not inconceivable that he could trouble the best at Cheltenham next month."

O'Brien confirmed that Essex will now head to the Cheltenham Festival, where he will tackle the Champion Hurdle.

"I don't think there's any other option. The only problem is that he's a five-year-old, but that was a serious performance today with 11-6, so he will certainly take his chance," he added.