Hill completes Mullins treble in bumper

Shaneshill filled Willie Mullins with belief that he can add to an already impressive record in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham next March after taking the O’Doherty’s Audio & Video Production Ltd Bumper in runaway fashion.

The champion trainer was completing a treble on the afternoon, following the earlier victories of Upazo and Smashing as son Patrick partnered the King’s Theatre gelding to a clear cut success.

The 4/6 favourite, who made all on his debut under rules at Naas earlier this month, travelled smoothly to strike the front early in the straight on this occasion.

He quickly settled the issue and stayed on strongly to beat The Herds Garden by 11 lengths with King Leon in third.

Mullins said, “That was good for a four-year-old having his second run in a month, and I was very impressed with him. I was surprised with myself running him twice in a month but I’ll mind him now. He looked very, very good.

“Patrick thought he was even better on the better ground. That bodes well aiming for March.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson