AS CLEAR AS A BELL Hill can climb Gold summit
IRISH RACING
A competitive renewal of this race is the highlight of a tremendous day’s action and Bellshill is tipped in the hope that he can improve on his run here at Christmas.
On that occasion he had to settle for fourth behind Kemboy but that was a pleasing first run since April.
It is worth recalling that the Willie Mullins inmate did win the Punchestown Gold Cup at the end of last season.
Furthermore, he only narrowly failed to pull off a tremendous weight carrying effort in the Irish Grand National just a few weeks prior to that.
Quite possibly Bellshill could emerge as a Gold Cup contender but to do so he will have to defeat stablemate Al Boum Photo (inset).
That one made a pleasing start to his season when winning a good race at Tramore on New Year’s Day and the form of that race already looks very strong.
Mullins and Ruby Walsh could also land the Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle with Tiger Tap Tap.
This French import made a pleasing debut at Leopardstown over Christmas when he was only just beaten by Sir Erec.
In the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle the vote goes to Gordon Elliott’s Vision D’honneur. He came up short on his Irish debut at Christmas but did much better at Punchestown last month when he recorded an impressive success. In the other Grade 1 event, the Flogas Novice Chase, Le Bague Au Roi is taken to strike a blow for the English raiders.
Elsewhere, Sassy Diva looks nicely treated in the opener while Oscar Knight can go one place better than last year in the three-mile handicap hurdle.
Landofhopeandglory hinted at a return to form at Limerick over Christmas so he is a hopeful choice in the Leopardstown Chase.