Willie Mullins bounces back-to-form with 194-1 treble

Normal service resumed for Willie Mullins who, after one winner but many reverses on day one, bounced back with a 194-1 treble, which included two Grade One successes, on the second day of the Punchestown festival.

For the second consecutive year, Bellshill put behind the disappointment of Cheltenham and near-miss at Aintree to score at this meeting, this time doing so in the grade one novice hurdle over three miles.

The 2-1 favourite tried this trip for the first time at Aintree and a jolting mistake at the second-last may well have cost him a winning debut over the distance. Having had to settle for second place, he arrived at Punchestown in search of compensation and, courtesy of a confident ride from Ruby Walsh, earned it in good style.