Connections are hoping the stiffer three miles at Punchestown will aid Bellshill in his bid for the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle on Wednesday.

The six-year-old, trained by Willie Mullins, put a disappointing run behind him when only beaten a neck by Ballyoptic in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.

"I think he stayed in Aintree, Ballyoptic just stayed a bit better," Mullins' son and assistant, Patrick, told At The Races.

"He travelled well into the race and jumped well, but for whatever reason he just stepped at the last.

"He's a big, long-striding horse and he just hasn't the tactical speed to run over the shorter trips.

"I think racing at three miles will bring out a bit of improvement."

Mullins has three other runners in this Grade One contest - Arkwrisht, Gangster and Stone Hard.

They are all owned by Gigginstown House Stud, who are also represented by General Principle and A Genie In Abottle.

"Arkwrisht is big and slow," said Gigginstown racing manager Eddie O'Leary.

"He ran a nice race at Aintree and bounced off that ground there.

"He probably wasn't quite good enough but he's going to make a smashing chaser.

"Stone Hard is ready to rock. He's another nice horse and he has just had a wind operation.

"Hopefully that will set him fair because he's a good horse and it just hasn't happened for him.

"A Genie In Abottle won his maiden hurdle in Naas well. He wants at least three miles, he's a proper chasing type. He's nice."

Trainer Adrian Keatley believes Thebarrowman is ready to take on the big boys.

"He's won all his three starts - a point-to-point, his bumper and a maiden hurdle - so he's going into a Grade One, but he's entitled to be there," said the Curragh handler.

"He's a fresh horse for this time of the year and we're looking forward to it."