Willie Mullins impressed as Bellshill wins by 12 lengths at Navan

Bellshill gave Willie Mullins his fourth win in the last five renewals of the Navan Novice Hurdle with a clear-cut victory at the Co Meath track.

A Grade One bumper winner at Punchestown in April, Bellshill (4-6 favourite) followed up his debut hurdles win at Cork in an impressive manner to take this Grade Two contest over two and a half miles.

The winner's stablemate Stone Hard made the running until he parted company with Paul Townend at the fifth-last flight.

That left Ruby Walsh in front on Bellshill and the Graham Wylie-owned five-year-old sealed success with good leaps at the final two flights.

Tycoon Prince was 12 lengths back in second with Chesterfieldavenue last of the three finishers.

Mullins said: “I know there were very few runners but there was very good opposition.

“The manner in which he quickened from the second-last in that ground, I was very taken with him.

“I was particularly pleased the way he handled the ground. He can tidy up his jumping but did everything nicely.

“He’ll probably go to Naas for the Lawlors Hotel Hurdle next month.”

Ttebbob gave a superb round of jumping to maintain his unbeaten record over fences in the Klairon Davis Novice Chase.

Successful at Thurles on his first start over the bigger obstacles last month, Jessica Harrington’s six-year-old disposed of his two rivals with the minimum of fuss.

In front from flag fall, the 2-5 favourite dictated affairs, with Robbie Power having no anxious moments.

Lord Scoundrel tried to close but never got near enough to mount a serious challenge and was 41 lengths down at the line. Shadow Catcher was always well behind and last of the trio.

Ttebbob was cut to 7-1 from 20-1 for the Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day with Paddy Power, who quote him at 25-1 for the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham.

Harrington confirmed Leopardstown as the likely next stop for Ttebbob.

The Co Kildare handler said: “He could only go out and beat them and he did that.

“He didn’t put a foot wrong and even when he does get in close he lands way out the far side.

“He’s very exciting and I’m very scared watching him. It’s definitely heart in the mouth.

“There are going to be horses take him on, but the great thing with him is you can take him wide and let him do his own thing.

“All being well he’ll go to Leopardstown at Christmas for the two-mile-one race. I think I’ll keep him at this trip. I know he has won over three miles and know he stays.”

Walk To Freedom capitalised on the last-fence fall on Edwulf to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase to give trainer Harrington and jockey Power a double.

Edwulf, trained by Aidan O’Brien, looked to have the race at his mercy when coming down, but his untimely exit saw Walk To Freedom (6-4 favourite) head McKinley on the Flat and go on to score by four lengths.

Harrington said: “He got lucky but he did actually quicken up well after the last.

“Robbie said he ran a bit on his nerves. He was much better the last day. He’s not straightforward.

“They didn’t go quick enough for him. If they go a good gallop he’s much better and relaxes more.

“If you get him to relax he has a very good turn of foot. He’s not a two-mile horse, he’s two-and-a-half mile horse. He got caught for toe down the hill, but when he met the rising ground he ran on.”

Katie Walsh enjoyed an armchair success on Rossvoss (14-1), trained by her father, Ted, in the Tara Handicap Hurdle.

Always handy, Rossvoss led after the third-last flight and gradually drew clear to win by 18 lengths from Bentelimar. Jimmy Two Times was five and a half lengths away in third place.

Walsh senior said: “That was great and it was a good pot to win.

“He was a couple of pounds out of the handicap and he had never run to his chase rating over hurdles before. He had 22lb to spare on his chase mark.

“He had blinkers on for the first time and it worked as he travelled. Ruby rode him the last day and said he was dossing and thought he was going to drop out at halfway.

“The only worry with blinkers was that he might run a bit keen in the heavy ground, but he travelled super and jumped super.

“He’s always promised to do something like that. He was a different horse today and ran to his chase mark.

“It’s the first day when I’ve thought he had a chance and he has delivered.”

Bryan Cooper brought Killer Crow (10-1) with a well-timed run to claim the Prancer And Dancer Rated Novice Chase.

Cooper bided his time on Gordon Elliott’s six-year-old and though Killer Crow did not jump the last well, he had enough in the tank to overhaul The Winkler and score by a length and three-quarters.

Balnagon Boy was four and a half lengths away in third.

Navan Death Duty (5-4 favourite) gave Elliott and owners Gigginstown House Stud a quick double when taking the concluding the 'Future Champions' INH Flat Race.

Nina Carberry just had to keep the five-year-old up to his work to supplement his Down Royal success six weeks ago by half a length from Our Duke.