WHETHER it will be a return to Fairyhouse or a trip to Aintree remains to be seen but Bellshill produced a National trial of real merit as he made a commanding return to the fray in the At The Races Bobbyjo Chase.

On his first outing since finishing third in last season’s RSA Chase, Bellshill was an 8/13 shot to account for his four rivals in this Grade 3 which lost one of its key players when Mala Beach with withdrawn late in the day. The victorious Andrea and Graham Wylie-owned eight-year-old turned out in terrific heart for this comeback with a performance which more than matched his position in the market.

Bellshill, who was looking to give Willie Mullins a fourth win in five years in this race, jumped nicely for David Mullins and travelled notably well. Indeed it was all looking quite ominous for his rivals on the approach to the straight as the King’s Theatre gelding ambled into contention. Bellshill shrugged aside A Genie In Abottle to go clear on the run to the last and he just needed to be kept up to his work to finish with four and three-quarter lengths to spare. Lord Scoundrel’s last fence exit left A Genie In Abottle to finish a clear second.

Bellshill will surely be a major player whatever National he takes in over the next few weeks.

“He’s a much stronger horse this year and he’s been going nicely at home,” said Mullins. “He jumped well and just idled once he found himself in front. I’d say we will be looking more at the big handicaps with him. He’s in the English and Irish Grand Nationals and he’s shown today that he’s quite at home at this track so maybe we will be looking at coming back here for the National.”

CLEARED

Willie and David Mullins then struck with Cadmium who made it 101 winners for the Supreme Racing Club in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase. The 4/5 favourite kept close to the freewheeling Veinard from an early stage and these two were still going well as they cleared the second last in unison. From just before the final fence, Cadmium held the call and he went on to pull five and a half lengths clear.

“He got a confident ride from David and jumped immaculately,” stated Mullins. “If there was a novice or a graded race in a few weeks he could go for that or else we can wait and come back here at Easter for the Ryanair Gold Cup.”

The Cheltenham-bound Mitchouka enjoyed the biggest victory of his highly industrious campaign as he took advantage of a straight forward opportunity in the Grade 3 Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle. As he looked for a fourth win of a season, which has also yielded a couple of fine placed runs in two of the best juvenile contests run in Ireland this term, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding was the 4/9 favourite.

PATIENT

A patient Davy Russell, who was making it 100 winners for the season, produced his mount to lead at the second last flight and the pair soon raced clear of their toiling rivals. At the line Mitchouka was a comfortable two and a quarter-length winner over the game front-runner, Mastermind.

“I keep knocking him saying he is what he is but, in fairness to him, he’s already won four this season and I wouldn’t mind a few more like him,” remarked Gordon Elliott. “He’ll go for the Fred Winter at Cheltenham now and his experience will help while a strong pace would also work in his favour.”

CLASSY

Elliott then took the wraps of a classy type in Sometime Soon who made a successful transition from the point-to-point field in the Ian Smith Memorial (Pro/Am) Flat Race. This bumper looked a decent contest with some strength in depth but the Kirkistown winner had all the answers under Lisa O’Neill.

The 2/1 chance was going smoothly in the front rank off the final bend and without having to be asked for his all he took control of the race with over a furlong to run. The Gigginstown-owned gelding came home two and a quarter lengths ahead of the newcomer Buddy Rich with the odds-on Stay Humble back in fourth.

“He’s a nice horse. He wouldn’t be a typical Gigginstown type but he’s smart and he’s not slow. He’ll go for a winners’ bumper in a few week’s time,” reported the trainer.

It was an afternoon to savour for Padraig Roche who notched up his first training success with Out Of The Loop in the Tommy Carberry Handicap Hurdle. Roche (32) took over the licence from his father Christy, who called time on his distinguished career in early January, and was sending out just his fifth runner.

Appropriately it was Out Of The Loop who gave Christy Roche his final success and this traditionally smart two and a half-mile contest represented the five-year-old’s first outing since then.

The strong-travelling Out Of The Loop (6/1) eased to the front for Mark Walsh at the second last and he responded well to pressure when asked to assert. He came home five and a half lengths ahead of fellow J.P. McManus-owned runner Sire Du Berlais.

“I just have to thank J.P. and Frank (Berry) for giving me this opportunity in my first year and it’s lovely that Dad’s owners have stayed in the yard,” reflected Roche. “We’ve always liked this horse and he’s improved with every run to date.”

The Jim Dreaper-trained Sizing Coal (2/5) became the fourth odds-on chance of the day to oblige as he ran out an assured winner of the At The Races-sponsored hunter chase. The 2015 Irish Grand National third, who wears the colours of Alan and Ann Potts Limited, turned in a polished effort for Jamie Codd. He made all the running in this extended two-mile, five-furlong event and ran out an easy eight-length winner over Rossvoss.

“He was very good there and the plan would be to stay at home with him and look at coming back here over Easter and then Punchestown,” declared the trainer’s son, Tom.

Battling Spirit and Katie O’Farrell, who were successful at Clonmel two months previously, joined forces once again to bag the At The Races-sponsored 80-102 rated handicap hurdle. The Jonathan Sweeney-trained 11-year-old was the 15/8 favourite for just the 12th racecourse outing of his career and he was firmly in contention from early in the straight. The Kevin Dunlea-owned and bred gelding led at the last and kept on determinedly to see off Misty Hollow by a length and a quarter. .ACTING STEWARDS

T. Hunt, M. Hillman, L. McFerran, J. Tyrell, M.F. O’Donoghue

Horse To Follow

BUDDY RICH (W.T. Farrell): He made a very pleasing debut to chase home Sometime Soon in the bumper. This gelding should be more than capable of making his mark in a similar race.