HARRY Fry is looking forward a tilt at the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Jollyallan following his admirable effort in defeat at Sandown last Saturday.

The six-year-old carried the colours of leading owner JP McManus to a hat-trick of novice hurdle victories earlier in the campaign and only came up narrowly short against seasoned handicapper Garde La Victoire in the Contenders’ Hurdle.

Fry believes that effort will stand his charge in good stead ahead of his next test in the Cheltenham Festival curtain-raiser.

“Jollyallan ran a good race but was beaten by a good standard bearer in Garde La Victoire,” the Seaborough handler said.

“We just got out-battled after the last, but it was what we wanted to achieve in terms of getting more experience in him and coming up against a good campaigner like Garde La Victoire.

“Getting into a bit of a battle, whether it was lost or not, will hopefully make more of a man of him with bigger targets in mind.

“All being well we’re looking forward to running him on decent ground, hopefully at Cheltenham in the Supreme.”