Shaneshill© Photo Healy Racing
Shaneshill is the star name on show in the Beaufort Golf Club An Riocht Chase at Killarney today.
It is almost a year since the Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old last tasted victory in the Prix La Barka at Auteuil, but he ran several fine races in defeat last season, both over hurdles and fences.
He was runner-up in the Galway Plate last summer and was last seen finishing third behind his esteemed stablemate Faugheen in the Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown.
His mark of 156 makes him the joint top-rated runner in this Grade Three contest, along with Enda Bolger’s Ballyoisin and Shaneshill is likely to be the more popular of the two with punters.
Mullins also fields American Tom but he needs to raise his game following a disappointing run of form.
Henry de Bromhead’s Alisier D’Irlande, the Jessica Harrington-trained Jett and Product Of Love from Alan Fleming’s yard also feature in an eight-strong field.
After struggling in competitive handicaps at Fairyhouse and Punchestown, Mullins sends Voix Du Reve back into conditions company for the Kelly Brothers Sliabh Luachra Hurdle.
The six-year-old’s rating of 139 gives him every chance in this six-runner heat, with Joseph O’Brien’s Marchese Marconi seemingly the biggest threat on his return from a break.
A strong field of 11 runners has been declared for the 40,000 euro Laurels Pub & Restaurant Killarney National.
Harrington’s Sandymount Duke was predictably outclassed in the Punchestown Gold Cup last month, but should be more competitive back in handicap company, despite the burden of top-weight.
Mullins runs Some Neck and Augustin while Enda Bolger’s La Touche Cup hero Auvergnat is back on a conventional track where he has won before.
There is a total prize fund of 26,000 euro up for grabs in the Easy Clean Limited Handicap Hurdle.
The Mullins-trained Didero Vallis is joint top-weight with Michael Hourigan’s Drumacoo although Niall Kelly claims a handy 5lb off the former.
The champion trainer has a second string to his bow in Hey Little Boy while other contenders include Noel Meade’s Half The Odds the Harry Rogers-trained Benkei and Eric McNamara’s Internal Transfer who carries just 10st 2lb.
