Warren Greatrex pleased with Cole Harden in Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham

Warren Greatrex was delighted with the performance of his former World Hurdle winner Cole Harden in the Relkeel Hurdle.

The eight-year-old hasn't tasted success since lifting the stayers' crown at the Cheltenham Festival in 2015 and was beaten 20 lengths into third in last season's Relkeel Hurdle.

Greatrex had flirted with chasing with Cole Harden making his seasonal reappearance at Wetherby over the larger obstacles in December, finishing a seven length second to It'safreebee.

The Lambourn handler opted to try the Westerner gelding in cheekpieces in Sunday's Grade Two in an attempt to rekindle his fortunes on his return to hurdling and he was satisfied with the results.

"I was really pleased with how Cole Harden ran," he told his website.

"He showed real enthusiasm and galloped right to the line.

"It was a much better run than in the same race last year and I feel it was his best run for over a year!!"

Richard Johnson was on board Cole Harden for the first time and he was also impressed with the performance.

"He jumped and travelled enthusiastically and ran well to finish third," he told his Betway Insider blog.

"He was perhaps a little cautious at Wetherby on his first start over fences. The return to hurdles suited but this wouldn't have been his ground and the trip was probably a little on the sharp side.

"He felt in good order, though, and the fire clearly still burns. The staying hurdle division looks quite open this season and I can see him running well in the big staying races in the spring."

Cole Harden, fourth behind Thistlecrack in last year's Stayers Hurdle, is a 33/1 chance with Sky Bet for the same race at the Cheltenham Festival.