Whiteout made to work hard by Miss

The odds-on favourite Whiteout was made to work hard for her win in the opener at Bellewstown, the Goodenuf2eat Event Catering Mares Hurdle.

Sent off a 2/5 chance the Willie Mullins trained four-year-old raced in second under Ruby Walsh as recent Killarney winner Miss Dinamic attempted to make all.

Whiteout came through to dispute the lead after three out and she needed to be ridden out on the run-in to get by Miss Dinamic with just a length and a quarter separating them at the line.

The runner-up was returned a 3/1 chance under Paul Carberry for Gordon Elliott while The Nutcracker was a further four and three parts of a length back in third.

Ruby Walsh said afterwards: "It turned into a bit of a sprint. Paul dictated things up front and quickened up well.

"She jumped brilliantly today and appreciated the bit nicer ground. It's certainly not yielding to soft - it's more like yielding and they are just taking the top off it.

"She's improving and going the right direction."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson