DOOM BAR SEFTON NOVICES’ HURDLE (GRADE 1)

THE luck turned against the Willie Mullins team on the second day, with Bellshill looking decidedly unfortunate in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle.

With Patrick Mullins taking over from Walsh, Bellshill came cruising through – this after stable-companions Arkwrisht and Balko Des Flos had both looked dangerous – but made a rare hash of the penultimate flight and lost momentum.

He rallied and went on again but wandered on the run-in and Ballyoptic, helped by the nearside rail, went right through with his effort to nail him in the close home in the hands of Ryan Hatch.

A 9/1 shot, Ballyoptic was completing a hat-trick and giving Nigel Twiston-Davies another success at one of his favourite venues.