Bellshill and Ruby Walsh© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins and his battalion of superstars once again stole the show on Sunday as Bellshill and Shaneshill strengthened their respective Cheltenham Festival credentials with victories at Naas.
Bellshill (2-5 fav) was particularly impressive when landing the feature race of the day, the Grade One Lawlor's Hotel Novice Hurdle, readily brushing aside his four rivals with the minimum of the fuss.
The six-year-old, who is owned by Andrea and Graham Wylie, was a Grade One bumper winner last season and has now done the same over obstacles having turned in a stylish display here, travelling strongly throughout before skipping clear of Last Encounter between the final couple of flights on the way a five length success.
It has proved to be a memorable couple of days for the Wylie family following Yorkhill's Grade One triumph at Sandown on Saturday and Shaneshill, who is also under their ownership, was much too classy when taking his unbeaten record over fences to two in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase.
The 4-7 market leader gave his supporters a few scares, though, pecking badly on landing after the penultimate fence before producing a much better leap at the last and asserting well on the run-in as he quickly put four and a half lengths between himself and Sizing Codelco < All You Need (2-1) made a winning debut over fences in the opening race on the card, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase, as hot favourite Uranna proved a major disappointment.
The eventual two and a half length winner was always well positioned under Adrian Heskin and took control after the last despite Melbourne Lady chasing hard in second.< Hurry Henry (13-8 fav) was very game when just holding Fairly Legal by a neck in the Annual Membership At Naas Maiden Hurdle while there was another close finish in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle as Vicangelome got the better of Tudor City by half a length.
The Panoramic Restaurant At Naas Handicap Chase saw a comfortable victory for 2-1 favourite Boher Call
