Bellshill back to try and enhance Willie Mullins Bobbyjo record
Willie Mullins has claimed the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse a record seven times and relies on Bellshill, who has been sidelined since last year's Cheltenham Festival.
BELLSHILL will return to the track after almost a year out at Fairyhouse on Saturday as he bids to add to Willie Mullins' superb record in the At The Races Bobbyjo Chase on Saturday.
The Irish champion trainer has claimed the Grade 3 prize a record seven times, including last year's success with Pleasant Company.
Bellshill was last seen finishing third behind the Nicky Henderson pair of Might Bite and Whisper in the RSA Chase at last season's Cheltenham Festival.
The eight-year-old is still likely to be strongly fancied to defy his absence and give weight and a beating to his five rivals.
Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said: "Bellshill is in great form at home. He schooled well on Friday morning and it will be great to get him back on the track.
"He's not well-in at the weights with Mala Beach and Lord Scoundrel. He has an 8lb penalty, so it's not going to be easy for him.
"The main thing we want is a clear round and we can look forward to a spring campaign."
Bellshill has entries in the Grand National at Aintree and the Irish equivalent at Fairyhouse, while he is also entered in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival next month.
Mullins added: "The Grand National and the Irish National are both possibilities and he needs experience if he's going to go for either of those."
Mullins' title rival Gordon Elliott has won the Bobbyjo Chase twice before in 2013 and 2015.
This year he has two runners, with Lord Scoundrel and Mala Beach both biding to bounce back to their best after being pulled-up on their most recent outings.
"Mala Beach is getting all the allowances, so we'll see," Elliott told At The Races.
Templegate's Treble
- NAP 4.15 Exeter - Coo Star Sivola: 'Has run well in some hot novice chases and he's in much calmer waters today'
- NEXT BEST 4.50 Exeter - Thomas Patrick: 'Beat a useful rival on his chase debut and he should love the step up to a marathon distance'
- TREBLE 3.00 Warwick - Socksy: 'Put another decent effort over fences last month and she should be hard to beat back against the mares'
Andy McNamara saddles his stable stalwart Val De Ferbet.
McNamara said: "He deserves to be there and the three-mile-one-furlong trip should suit.
"We gave him a bit of a mid-winter break as he was struggling on the very heavy ground. It shouldn't be as heavy this weekend, so we'll see what happens.
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"He's a couple of pounds wrong with a couple of them and it does look a very competitive renewal. I'd say it's as good a Bobbyjo Chase as there's been a few years.
"He won the Imperial Call Chase in Cork on Irish Grand National day last year and, all being well, he'll either go for that again or go for the Irish National itself."
The Noel Meade-trained A Genie In Abottle and Stephen Mahon's outsider Champagne Harmony complete the line-up.