Weapon's Amnesty showed plenty of guts to hold the renewed challenge of Pride Of Dulcote in a thrilling finish to the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Jockey Ruby Walsh was bidding for a seventh Festival winner aboard the runner-up and his mount was left in front as early pace-setter Den Of Iniquity went wrong and was pulled.

He had never been far from the pace and kicked on coming down the hill but Davy Russell always had him in his sights aboard the Charles Byrnes-trained Weapon's Amnesty.

The 8-1 shot was among a bunch of horses still travelling along with Cape Tribulation and On Raglan Road but that duo failed to pick up as the pressure was applied.

Russell asked his mount for everything approaching the last and appeared to have the race in safe-keeping, but he began to idle on the run-in.

Pride Of Dulcote came at him again but Weapon's Amnesty proved half a length too strong with The Midnight Club plugging on for third, a further two lengths adrift.

Russell said: "I knew I didn't want to get there too early on him, but I couldn't stop him.

"I was hoping someone would come to me. He's a good horse and he wasn't doing a stroke in front.

"Ruby had another go but it was more a case of me going back to him as I was idling in front.

"You must remember that Charles Byrnes has done a fantastic job with him. For anybody that doesn't know he has been very difficult to train, he's got a very big frame."

Byrnes added: "It's my first winner here having saddled the second in this race twice before, both last year and in 2006.

"He's by Presenting so I thought he would appreciate the better ground and his form at home had worked out well.

"He will jump fences next season and I suspect he could just come back for the RSA Chase."

Willie Mullins said of the third: "I'm delighted with him and in the last two to three furlongs there were a couple of occasions when I thought he might just get there.

"I'll look at the four-miler for him next year as he gallops all day and has won a point-to-point."