Shaneshill and Ruby Walsh are clear over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Shaneshill gave a boost to his much vaunted stablemate Douvan when taking the Grade 2 Coolmore NH Sires Leading Light & Ocovango Novice Hurdle in runaway style at Fairyhouse.
The King's Theatre gelding filled the runner-up spot in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle last month but went one better here in no uncertain terms.
The 4/9 favourite led before the penultimate flight and soon put the 2m4f event to bed. He drew right away on the run-in for Ruby Walsh to beat stable-companion Outlander by a facile 13 lengths, with On Fiddlers Green a further two and three quarter lengths back in third.
Winning trainer Willie Mullins said, "I'm wondering did we go for the wrong race at Cheltenham! I didn't think he'd go in the conditions as it's very tacky and soft but he handled it very well.
"He'll go to Punchestown and, on that run, it looks like he'll stay at that trip. Nicholls Canyon will run at Aintree and we can make a decision after that what to do with them (at Punchestown). He'll go chasing next year."
