< Silver Birch is still on target to bid for a second win in the John Smith's Grand National despite being well-beaten in the Slane Handicap Hurdle at Navan.

Gordon Elliott's 12-year-old, who has had two outings in point-to-points recently, beat only one home as he struggled a long way from home in this 23-furlong contest.

However, the trainer was satisfied with Silver Birch, who was ridden by Elliott's brother Joey as the horse warmed up for next month's Aintree marathon with a first run under Rules since his 2007 success at Aintree.

"I'm happy although I thought he'd finish a bit closer," said Elliott.

The race went to 7-2 favourite Bit Of A Devil who swept home by seven lengths from Offshore Account

Winning trainer Charles Byrnes was following up his success with Weapon's Amnesty in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday.

Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh carried on their fine Cheltenham form with a treble through Lilywhitedancer Prince Merano and Barker < Palace Merano (3-1) followed up a narrow Thurles win with a neck victory over Across The Bay in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle.

"He makes hard work of it and we'll go two miles six or three miles with him now."

Mullins and Walsh kicked off in style when Lilywhitedancer (3-10) justified long odds-on with a six-length saunter in division one of the Kilberry Maiden Hurdle.

"I'm delighted with that, he settled much better today than he has done, but he hated the ground. It is very tacky," said Mullins.

"We'll try him in a winners of one and he'll go to Fairyhouse."

Barker (4-9) completed the trio with victory over Jak Dream in the Kells Novice Chase.

Walsh had earlier been denied when Glenview Leader was beaten a length by the Eyssen Ross-trained Kyle's Turn in the second division of the maiden hurdle.

Ross, celebrating her first winner, said: "He had a virus after he last ran over Christmas. He's just gradually got over it."< Bella Mana Mou (12-1) earned a possible tilt at the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse with a

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