GREAT to see Bellshill back in the winners’ enclosure on Saturday at Fairyhouse after his victory in the Grade 3 At The Races Bobbyjo Chase. This was his first win since December 2016 and his first start since last year’s Cheltenham Festival. The eight-year-old has little mileage on the clock still and this was his ninth success in all, three of which have been gained at Grade 1 level.

Bred by Frank Motherway, the son of King’s Theatre (Sadler’s Wells) is out of Fairy Native, a daughter of Be My Native (Our Native) who was tried three times on the racecourse without success. What she may have lacked in racing talent herself has proven to be no impediment as a broodmare and she has four winning progeny and some very tasty young stock in the wings. Three of her four winners are sons of the former Ballylinch Stud champion National Hunt sire King’s Theatre.