Carter represents Pearl at Cheltenham Festival

Pearl Bloodstock has a runner at Cheltenham on Friday as Carter McKay runs in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.

Carter McKay makes his handicap debut in the Martin Pipe and is currently a 16/1chance under Jamie Bargary.

He made a winning hurdling debut on heavy ground at Gowran in November and has since finished third in Graded races. Carter McKay chased home Getabird and Mengli Khan (who took third in Tuesday's Supreme Novices' Hurdle) in a Gr. 2 at Punchestown, and wasn't far behind Tower Bridge and Jetz in the Gr. 1 Nathaniel Lacy and Partners Solicitors Novices' Hurdle at Leopardstown last time.

Willie Mullins has won three of the nine renewals of the Martin Pipe - with future Gr. 1 winners Sir des Champs, Don Poli and Killultagh Vic - and he also runs Deal d'Estruval and Burrows Saint, alongside Carter McKay.

Carter McKay was well fancied for the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival last year and, while he didn't come up to scratch, there was a possible excuse for his performance. He was also dropping back in trip that day, and the two and a half miles of the Martin Pipe could be perfect for him.