Now that the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle has been confirmed as his one and only target at the Cheltenham Festival, I am even more convinced that Jonjo O’Neill’s Quantitativeeasing is going to take some beating, writes Elliot Slater.

Could there be anything more appropriate than a horse named after a policy of injecting cash flow into the financial system winning money put up by a financial investment company? I think not.

Unbeaten in his three racecourse appearances, the five-year-old has looked a class act, following a victory on his debut in a hot Punchestown bumper with two facile successes at Newcastle and Newbury. Although campaigned thus far at distances of two miles, the extra five furlongs of the Cheltenham race look ideal as the Anshan gelding looks like a horse who will be capable of staying that distance and more in time.

Available to back at a best-priced 9/1 in the ante-post lists, Quantitativeeasing is a horse with limitless potential who has been brought along steadily by his shrewd handler. Having held entries in a number of races at the four-day Festival fixture it is significant that connections have opted to take on the challenge of the longer novices event as opposed to the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Dermot Weld’s talented Rite of Passage heads the ante-post list at a best priced 5/1 having looked very smart when thrashing his rivals on his one and only hurdles start to date at Leopardstown in January. Formerly a decent flat performer, he has been the subject of sustained market support and will certainly put the O’Neill horse through his paces on the day.

That said, I still believe that Quantitativeeasing looks one of the best bets of the forthcoming Festival and will be expecting to see the JP McManus-owned gelding storming ahead of his rivals in the run-in at Prestbury Park.