Silver Birch beaten at Navan

Silver Birch was a major disappointment in the Slane Handicap Hurdle at Navan today - his first run under Rules since winning the 2007 Grand National.

Gordon Elliott's 12-year-old, who has had two recent outings in point-to-points, beat only one home as he struggled a long way from home in this two-mile-seven-furlong contest.

The race went to 7-2 favourite Bit Of A Devil, who swept home by seven lengths from Offshore Account.

Winning trainer Charles Byrnes was following up his success with Weapon's Amnesty in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday.

Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh carried on their fine Cheltenham form by taking two of the first races on the card.

Lilywhitedancer justified long-odds-on favouritism with a six-length romp over Porticcio in division one of the Kilberry Maiden Hurdle.

Palace Merano (3-1) then followed up a narrow Thurles win with a neck victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle.