NEWS ROUND-UP: THE TERRIFIC run of form of Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh shows no sign of stopping as the pair got proceedings at Navan off to a winning start courtesy of Lilywhitedancer and then went on to complete a treble with Palace Merano and Barker.

Instigating the three-timer, the seven-year-old King’s Theatre gelding was opening his account over hurdles in the Kilberry Maiden.

“I’m delighted with that, he settled much better today than he has done, but he hated the ground – it is very tacky,” said trainer Willie Mullins.

Of future plans he said: “We will try him with a winners of one, but he will go to Fairyhouse.”

Palace Merano had to dig deep in the six-runner novice hurdle, with Solstice Knight being a notable absentee.

Noel Meade’s Across The Bay ran the eventual winner all the way to the line but just failed as Mullins’ charge made it two on the bounce. “He makes hard work of it and we will go 2m 6f-3m with him now, and Fairyhouse would appear to be perfect timing for him,” explained the trainer.

Fairyhouse is also the target for former Pierse Hurdle winner Barker as the grey made it two on the trot over fences. The grey was made work a little harder than his odds would have suggested but under Walsh, Barker stuck his head out and scored by two-and-a-half-lengths from Jak Dream.

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

At Limerick Moskova steered a lone furrow down the outside to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase. After holding his mount at the rear of the field for most of the two-and-three-quarter-mile journey, Davy Russell made his move in the straight. The 9 to 4 favourite pulled clear in this Grade Three heat to score by five and a half lengths from Leanne, with Go Sandy Go third.