Another Grade 1 for top team Grade 1 honours in the Lawlor's Hotel Novice Hurdle at Naas went the way of an in-form team, that of Andrea and Graham Wylie, Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh as Bellshill fully lived up to his odds-on status (2/5). The other Mullins contender, Stone Hard (5/1 second favourite) quickly petered out from before the straight and was eventually pulled up by Bryan Cooper. Walsh, earlier on the mark for the same connections on Shaneshill, moved closer from three out to go in pursuit of pace-setting outsider Last Encounter. The successful King's Theatre gelding didn't convince at the final two but he stayed on well to account for the aforementioned Last Encounter by five lengths. "He might need to brush up his jumping a bit. His jumping has been fantastic up to now, and I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and say it was due to idling in front on that very testing ground," stated Mullins. "He's progressing nicely and has a huge cruising speed. He'll probably go next for the Deloitte at Leopardstown (February 6)." For Ruby Walsh this was a 172nd career Grade 1 winner (Barry Geraghty next in the all-time list at 98). Willie Mullins meanwhile trained 33 Grade 1 winners in 2015 and now two already this year. For the Neptune Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival Paddy Power go 9/2 fav (from 5/1) about Bellshill, whilst BoyleSports make him the 3/1fav (from 5/1). The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Stone Hard, trained by W.P. Mullins, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal. B.J. Cooper, rider of Stone Hard, trained by W.P. Mullins, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount stopped quickly. (AM & EM)
