While Min impressed on his chase debut at Navan, Willie Mullins will be less impressed after another of his hot prospects disappointed on his first start over obstacles.
Battleford was sent off an odds-on favourite for the opening I.N.H. Stallion Owners European Breeders Fund Maiden Hurdle but faded well before the finish to come home in fourth as Brelade claimed the honours.
Having been narrowly beaten into second in both the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and the equivalent contest at Aintree last spring, Graham Wylie's Battleford was unsurprisingly all the rage to make a winning start to his jumping career under Rules as the 1-3 favourite in a 30-runner field.
The five-year-old travelled well enough for a long way, but was in trouble before the home turn and eventually finished a well-beaten fourth.
Brelade, an 11-1 shot for Gordon Elliott after opening his account at the fourth attempt in a Naas bumper three weeks ago, was given a confident ride by Jack Kennedy and after cruising into contention in the straight, a big jump at the final flight proved crucial as he got the better of Joey Sasa by a neck.
Elliott said: "He's a nice horse and wants a bit further. We'll step him up in trip now.
"It's great for Jack as that's his first winner since he came back from injury."
