Shaneshill digs deep for Galmoy Hurdle honours

The ultra-consistent Shaneshill got back on the winning trail in the John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park.Since his last victory in a novice chase at Naas over a year ago, the Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old has been placed on multiple occasions at Grade One level both over hurdles and fences.He was in the process of running another solid race when suffering a heavy fall at the final flight in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown last month and was 9-4 for his latest assignment.Milsean took the six-strong field along during the early stages, but came to grief with over a circuit still to run, leaving Shaneshill and Dedigout at the head of affairs.Dedigout weakened rapidly before the home turn, with Shaneshill in front of stable companion Clondaw Warrior, Noel Meade's Snow Falcon and the Gordon Elliott-trained De Plotting Shed.Snow Falcon tried to make a race of it and the patiently-ridden Clondaw Warrior was delivered with his challenge by Ruby Walsh, but Shaneshill passed the post three-quarters of a length to the good.Christmas Hurdle placings were reversed with Snow Falcon, third at Leopardstown, beating Leopardstown runner-up Clondaw Warrior to second.