Gordon Elliott broke his BoyleSports Irish Grand National duck as General Principle came out on top in a dramatic race at Fairyhouse.

There were plenty of fallers in the gruelling conditions, but Bellshill was out of trouble in front and jumped the second-last seemingly full of running.

He just about clambered over the last, though, paving the way for Isleofhopendreams to come through, but he was collared on the line by J J Slevin on General Principle (20-1).

The victory will go a long way to helping Elliott to his first trainers' title, and Getaway John (3-1) capped a red-letter day for him in the Cawley Furniture Flat Race.

However, Willie Mullins won't go down without a fight and Un De Sceaux s triumph in the Devenish Chase was the highlight of a Grade Two treble for the reigning champion and Paul Townend.

The 5-6 favourite was perhaps a bit fortunate because he was being strongly pressed by Doctor Phoenix when that one crashed out at the second-last, allowing Un De Sceaux to coast home 18 lengths to the good over A Toi Phil < Getabird banished his Cheltenham flop to the memory with a dominant display in the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle.

Ruby Walsh tried and failed to make all in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle but Townend adopted the same tactics here and the even-money favourite was back on song as he stormed 12 lengths clear of stablemate Draconien

Mullins and Townend also took the Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle with Coquin Mans (7-1).

Off since an unfortunate Clonmel experience in December, the six-year-old shared pacemaking duties with Forge Meadow and once seeing off that rival, ran right the way to the line to beat Diamond Cauchois by five and a half lengths.< Ah Littleluck (25-1) disposed of Miles To Memphis by the same distance in the Fairyhouse Steel Handicap Hurdle, while Paper Lantern (14-1) took the Fred Kenny Lifetime Service To Racing Handicap Chase and Western Ruler sprung a 25-1 surprise in the Farmhouse Foods Novice Handicap Hurdle.