Bells just lands the odds in a thriller

Bellshill provided Willie Mullins with his 14th winner in the past week when just holding on under the champion trainer’s son Patrick in a terrific finish to the bumper at Thurles.

Snapped up by Andrea and Graham Wylie after finishing runner-up in a Maralin point-to-point back in March, the form received a timely boost when another Mullins acquisition Bordini (third at Maralin) won in fine style at Punchestown last Sunday.

The King’s Theatre gelding was backed as if defeat was out of the question, 4/6 this morning and 4/9 on track before going off the 4/11 favourite.

However it was far from plain sailing as the record-breaking champion amateur needed to get serious in the final furlong, with Attribution throwing down a determined challenge.

The pair drew clear with Bellshill just getting the verdict by a head in a bobbing finish, with Beyond The Obvious nine lengths away in third.

Willie Mullins said, "He made hard work of it and raced very keen throughout and hadn't as much in reserve. Hopefully he will improve and win his winners' bumper."

(TW & AM)