Bellshill supreme for Mullins and Townend

Bellshill flies the last ahead of stable companion Haymount in the Shannon Airport Novice Chase at Limerick

Bellshill bids to book his ticket to Cheltenham and remain unbeaten over fences in the Flogas Novice ChaseCredit: Alain Barr

Bellshill was shortened to a general 6-1 favourite for the RSA Novice Chase at Cheltenham after running out a convincing winner of the Grade 2 Shannon Airport Novice Chase for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.

It was a very deep renewal of this contest, despite there being just five runners. The winner jumped well for the most part and quickened decisively past his stablemate Haymount between the final two fences to score by a decisive three and a quarter lengths.

It was a performance that impressed his rider too, Paul Townend remarking: "We didn't fly but he picked up well off the last bend, winged the second-last and put it to bed from there.

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Justin O'HanlonReporter

Published on 26 December 2016inReports

Last updated 20:14, 26 December 2016

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