THE 3/1 favourite Ballyandy won Saturday's Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, one of the biggest handicaps of the jumps season.

Winner of the Cheltenham bumper a year ago, Ballyandy had been beaten on all three of his previous starts over hurdles this season but they had been in hot company and many felt the handicapper had been too lenient giving this Grade 1 winner a handicap mark of 135.

Trainer Paul Nicholls also thought his novice Movewiththetimes was well-treated on 136 and it was this pair who dominated the closing stages of the contest.

Sam Twiston-Davies asked Ballyandy for a big jump at the final flight and the six-year-old didn't disappoint and came out of the obstacle with a clear lead.

Movewiththetimes stuck to his guns under Barry Geraghty but Twiston-Davies - first jockey to Nicholls - and Ballyandy wouldn't be denied.

The pair were separated by three parts of a length while Clyne, six lengths adrift, finished best of the rest with Song Light running another big race in fourth.

Twiston-Davies said: "It's lovely when a plan works out. He's been unlucky and hasn't won any of the races we thought he would. What a consolation!"

The winner is likely to run in either the Supreme or Neptune Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

"We could not understand him getting beaten in those first three races, there were no real excuses. He has always been a superstar, as we know from Cheltenham. The strong pace helped. The world is his oyster at the moment."

Paul Nicholls said of his runner-up Movewiththetimes: "He will be some chaser. He is still a bit babyish, but has run a nice race and there are no excuses.

"He was just a bit green as that was his only fourth start over hurdles and he has never been off the bridle before.

"He is just a really nice horse. He is in the Supreme and the Neptune. We will see what the owner (J.P. McManus) wants."

Nicholls won the closing listed bumper with the well-backed Daphne Du Clos. A daughter of Spanish Moon, she defeated some well-regarded geldings and looks a future star.

READ IAN CARNABY'S BRITISH RACING COLUMN IN THE IRISH FIELD EVERY WEEKEND

HORSE Age Wgt Rating Owner Trainer

1) OUTLANDER (IRE) 9 11-10 166 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

2) CHAMPAGNE WEST (IRE) 9 11-09 165 Roger Brookhouse Henry de Bromhead IRE

3) EMPIRE OF DIRT (IRE) 10 11-08 164 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

4) DON POLI (IRE) 8 11-07 163 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

5) CARLINGFORD LOUGH (IRE) 11 11-06 162 J P McManus John Kiely IRE

6) THE LAST SAMURI (IRE) 9 11-05 161 Paul & Clare Rooney Kim Bailey

7) ALARY (FR) 7 11-04 160 Ann & Alan Potts Colin Tizzard

8) ALELCHI INOIS (FR) 9 11-03 159 L McMahon/Mrs F Murphy/F Mangan Willie Mullins IRE

9) MINELLA ROCCO (IRE) 7 11-02 158 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill

10) DEVILS BRIDE (IRE) 10 11-01 157 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE

11) MORE OF THAT (IRE) 9 11-01 157 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill

12) LORD SCOUNDREL (IRE) 8 11-00 156 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

13) PERFECT CANDIDATE (IRE) 10 11-00 156 ISL Recruitment Fergal O'Brien

14) SAPHIR DU RHEU (FR) 8 11-00 156 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls

15) SHANTOU FLYER (IRE) 7 11-00 156 Carl Hinchy Rebecca Curtis

16) ROAD TO RICHES (IRE) 10 10-13 155 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade IRE

17) SAUSALITO SUNRISE (IRE) 9 10-13 155 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs

18) CAROLE'S DESTRIER 9 10-12 154 Carole Skipworth Neil Mulholland

19) CLARCAM (FR) 7 10-12 154 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

20) FOXROCK (IRE) 9 10-12 154 Barry Connell Ted Walsh IRE

21) ROI DES FRANCS (FR) 8 10-12 154 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

22) WONDERFUL CHARM (FR) 9 10-11 153 Robin Geffen & Sir John Ritblat Paul Nicholls

23) WOUNDED WARRIOR (IRE) 8 10-11 153 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade IRE

24) BLAKLION 8 10-10 152 Sarah Such & Gino Paletta Nigel Twiston-Davies

25) DROP OUT JOE 9 10-10 152 The Jesters Charlie Longsdon

26) TENOR NIVERNAIS (FR) 10 10-10 152 Boultbee Brooks Ltd Venetia Williams

27) TIGER ROLL (IRE) 7 10-10 152 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

28) A TOI PHIL (FR) 7 10-09 151 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

29) LE MERCUREY (FR) 7 10-09 151 Chris Giles & Colm Donlon Paul Nicholls

30) THE GAME CHANGER (IRE) 8 10-09 151 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

31) CAUSE OF CAUSES (USA) 9 10-08 150 J P McManus Gordon Elliott IRE

32) MAGGIO (FR) 12 10-08 150 Douglas Pryde/Jim Beaumont Patrick Griffin IRE

33) REGAL ENCORE (IRE) 9 10-08 150 J P McManus Anthony Honeyball

34) THE YOUNG MASTER 8 10-08 150 Dajam & The Old Masters Neil Mulholland

35) DEFINITLY RED (IRE) 8 10-07 149 Phil Martin Brian Ellison

36) DOUBLE SHUFFLE (IRE) 7 10-07 149 Crossed Fingers Partnership Tom George

37) HOUBLON DES OBEAUX (FR) 10 10-07 149 Mrs Julian Blackwell Venetia Williams

38) PLEASANT COMPANY (IRE) 9 10-07 149 Malcolm Denmark Willie Mullins IRE

39) UCELLO CONTI (FR) 9 10-07 149 Simon Munir/Isaac Souede Gordon Elliott IRE

40) VIEUX LION ROUGE (FR) 8 10-07 149 Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent David Pipe

41) BALLYNAGOUR (IRE) 11 10-06 148 Allan Stennett David Pipe

42) HIGHLAND LODGE (IRE) 11 10-06 148 Bowes Lodge Stables James Moffatt

43) JUNCTION FOURTEEN (IRE) 8 10-06 148 Martin St Quinton & Tim Syder Emma Lavelle

44) O'FAOLAINS BOY (IRE) 10 10-06 148 Trembath, Hyde, Outhart & Hill Rebecca Curtis

45) ONE FOR ARTHUR (IRE) 8 10-06 148 Two Golf Widows Lucinda Russell

46) VIVALDI COLLONGES (FR) 8 10-06 148 The Gi Gi Syndicate Paul Nicholls

47) BISHOPS ROAD (IRE) 9 10-05 147 Alan Halsall Kerry Lee

48) LORD WINDERMERE (IRE) 11 10-05 147 Dr Ronan Lambe Jim Culloty IRE

49) SAINT ARE (FR) 11 10-05 147 David Fox Tom George

50) VICENTE (FR) 8 10-05 147 John Hales & Ian Fogg Paul Nicholls

51) VICS CANVAS (IRE) 14 10-05 147 Bodeen Bandits Partnership Dermot McLoughlin IRE

52) ZIGA BOY (FR) 8 10-05 147 Axom LI Alan King

53) JUST A PAR (IRE) 10 10-04 146 Paul Barber & the late Graham Roach Paul Nicholls

54) MEASUREOFMYDREAMS (IRE) 9 10-04 146 Gigginstown House Stud Noel Meade IRE

55) RAZ DE MAREE (FR) 12 10-04 146 James J Swan Gavin Cromwell

56) STELLAR NOTION (IRE) 9 10-04 146 Roger Brookhouse Henry de Bromhead IRE

57) AS DE MEE (FR) 7 10-03 145 The Stewart Family & Judi Dench Paul Nicholls

58) COCKTAILS AT DAWN 9 10-03 145 Robin Geffen & Sir John Ritblat Nicky Henderson

59) PENDRA (IRE) 9 10-03 145 J P McManus Charlie Longsdon

60) ROGUE ANGEL (IRE) 9 10-03 145 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE

61) SEVENTH SKY (GER) 10 10-03 145 Fidelma Toole Charlie Mann

62) SHUTTHEFRONTDOOR (IRE) 10 10-03 145 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill

63) GAS LINE BOY (IRE) 11 10-02 144 The Three Graces Ian Williams

64) GOODTOKNOW 9 10-02 144 Burling Daresbury MacEchern Nolan Potter Kerry Lee

65) THE ROMFORD PELE (IRE) 10 10-02 144 Trembath & Outhart Rebecca Curtis

66) THUNDER AND ROSES (IRE) 9 10-02 144 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE

67) TRIOLO D'ALENE (FR) 10 10-02 144 Sandy & Caroline Orr Nicky Henderson

68) VIEUX MORVAN (FR) 8 10-02 144 N H Bloodstock Ltd Isabelle Pacault FR

69) DOCTOR HARPER (IRE) 9 10-01 143 The Johnson Family David Pipe

70) GALLANT OSCAR (IRE) 11 10-01 143 J P McManus Tony Martin IRE

71) LA VATICANE (FR) 8 10-01 143 Maria Bukhtoyarova David Pipe

72) BLESS THE WINGS (IRE) 12 10-00 142 Adrian Butler/S P O'Connor Gordon Elliott IRE

73) TOUR DES CHAMPS (FR) 10 10-00 142 Prestbury Racing Club Samuel Drinkwater

74) KNOCK HOUSE (IRE) 8 9-13 141 Tim Leslie Donald McCain

75) HADRIAN'S APPROACH (IRE) 10 9-12 140 Richard & Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes Nicky Henderson

76) BENBENS (IRE) 12 9-11 139 Sarah Such & Gino Paletta Nigel Twiston-Davies

77) POTTERS CROSS 10 9-11 139 Conyers, O'Reilly, Roddis, Zeffman Rebecca Curtis

78) SAMBREMONT (FR) 7 9-11 139 Shanakiel Racing Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE

79) STRAIDNAHANNA (IRE) 8 9-11 139 Margaret Scholey & Ray Scholey Sue Smith

80) VIVA STEVE (IRE) 9 9-11 139 Paul & Clare Rooney Fergal O'Brien

81) CLOUDY TOO (IRE) 11 9-10 138 Formulated Polymer Products Ltd Sue Smith

82) LAMB OR COD (IRE) 10 9-10 138 Terry Warner Philip Hobbs

83) MILANSBAR (IRE) 10 9-10 138 Robert Bothway Neil King

84) POLIDAM (FR) 8 9-10 138 Simon Munir/Isaac Souede Willie Mullins IRE

85) DROMNEA (IRE) 10 9-09 137 Ann Daly Mouse Morris IRE

86) STREETS OF PROMISE (IRE) 8 9-09 137 Gempro Michael Scudamore

87) VYTA DU ROC (FR) 8 9-09 137 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nicky Henderson

88) BEEVES (IRE) 10 9-08 136 Paul & Clare Rooney Jennie Candlish

89) ROYALE KNIGHT 11 9-08 136 Chris Stedman & Robert Corsan Dr Richard Newland

90) ALFIE SPINNER (IRE) 12 9-07 135 Alan Beard & Brian Beard Kerry Lee

91) EMPEROR'S CHOICE (IRE) 10 9-07 135 The Bellamy Partnership Venetia Williams

92) GOULANES (IRE) 11 9-07 135 Roger Brookhouse Neil Mulholland

93) LESSONS IN MILAN (IRE) 9 9-07 135 Trevor Hemmings Nicky Henderson

94) MOUNTAIN KING 8 9-07 135 Jack McKay/Paul McKay/Mark McKay Gordon Elliott IRE

95) OUT SAM 8 9-07 135 Swanee River Partnership Warren Greatrex

96) SIZING COAL (IRE) 9 9-07 135 Alan & Ann Potts Partnership Jim Dreaper IRE

97) DARE TO ENDEAVOUR 10 9-06 134 Aidan J Ryan Eric McNamara IRE

98) FATHER EDWARD (IRE) 8 9-06 134 Fergus Wilson David Pipe

99) SAMINGARRY (FR) 10 9-06 134 Nigel Hawke Racing Club & Partner Nigel Hawke

100) SILVER MAN 10 9-06 134 John Wardle Jo Hughes

101) ALVARADO (IRE) 12 9-05 133 William & Angela Rucker Fergal O'Brien

102) MILBOROUGH (IRE) 11 9-05 133 Helen Cross Ian Duncan

103) THE CRAFTY BUTCHER (IRE) 10 9-04 132 P Byrne/P W Mullins/D Ryan/I Madigan Willie Mullins IRE

104) WALDORF SALAD 9 9-04 132 Alan Parker Venetia Williams

105) KATENKO (FR) 11 9-03 131 Andrew Brooks Venetia Williams

106) FEDERICI 8 9-02 130 Jon Glews Donald McCain

107) GONE TOO FAR 9 9-01 129 Fergus Wilson David Pipe

108) RACING PULSE (IRE) 8 9-01 129 Carl Hinchy Rebecca Curtis

109) KILLER CROW (IRE) 8 9-00 128 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

109 entries, 37 Irish-trained, I French-trained