Champion trainer Willie Mullins won the Grade 2 Navan Novice Hurdle for the fourth time in five years when Bellshill, ridden by Ruby Walsh, proved an impressive twelve lengths winner of yesterday’s feature in Navan.

It is Round Four for the season in Ireland between Hurricane Fly and Jezki but it is a battle with a difference this time, taking place over three miles in the World Hurdle (5.30). 

 

I was surprised yesterday when discovering that the BHA has decided to hold a somewhat belated inquiry into Aidan Coleman’s use of the whip when winning the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow aboard Emperor’s Choice.

McKinley tore up the script as he floored his Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Tell Us More to cause a big upset in the Lawlor’s Hotel Novice Hurdle at Naas yesterday.

There’s a real hint of the Christmas blues about Irish racing this weekend, with small fields essentially the order of the day at both Cork this afternoon and Naas tomorrow.

Willie Mullins expects a step up in distance to bring about further improvement from Tell Us More as the exciting youngster spearheads a three-pronged assault on tomorrow’s Lawlor’s Hotel Novice Hurdle at Naas for the champion trainer and Gigginstown House Stud.

Willie Mullins appears to hold most of the aces in the Navan Novice Hurdle on Sunday, with Shaneshill, Outlander, Killultagh Vic and Killer Crow among the 12 entries.

There won’t be a dry eye in the house at Fairyhouse tomorrow if The Tullow Tank can land the Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase.

I head to Naas this afternoon for three rides, none of them representing Willie Mullins.

Vocaliser, trained by Jim Bolger, proved an emphatic winner of the Irish Stallion farms 2-Y-0 Maiden in Roscommon last night, producing a performance which suggested he could develop into a smart staying colt.

If there is a possible star of the future on show at Roscommon this evening then it is surely Killer Crow in the Four Roads Maiden Hurdle.

Marinero, a costly failure at Fairyhouse on Grand National day, gets the nap in the Bumper, back at the Co Meath track tonight.

Rebel Fitz, having a first outing for 160 days, produced a smashing display to land the www.racinghomeforeaster.com Hurdle at the students’ meeting at Cork yesterday.