Threemore for Walsh and Mullins

RUBY WALSH and Willie Mullins continued in irresistible form when sharing a treble at Navan yesterday, scoring with odds-on shots Lilywhitedancer and Barker and marker-drifter Palace Merano, which needed all of Walsh’s strength to land the Irish Stallion Farms Novice Hurdle.

Lilywhitedancer, narrowly denied in a Fairyhouse handicap last time, was sent off a red-hot 30/100 favourite for the opening division of the Kilberry Maiden Hurdle and, under an ultra-confident ride, came through to beat Porticcio comfortably.

Mullins commented: “He was bit unlucky at Fairyhouse, but settled much better today. He hated the ground, because it’s so tacky. And we’ll look for a suitable ‘novice’ for him, or go back handicapping.”