WATCH FREE

Graham Wylie harbouring Gold Cup dream for Bellshill

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023

Owner Graham Wylie is hoping Bellshill can become a serious contender for the Magners Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

The eight-year-old, trained by Willie Mullins, signed off in the spring with victory in the Punchestown Gold Cup and is set to return to action next month, possibly in the John Durkan Memorial Chase back on that course.

He had looked like winning the Irish Grand National on his penultimate start, only to put the brakes on approaching the final fence, causing some interference for which he was relegated from fourth place to fifth.

“I’m hoping he’s going to be good enough to be there for the Gold Cup this season. He comes out next month, all being well,” Wylie told At The Races.

“He’s probably my best horse right now. I’ve had good feedback from Ruby (Walsh) and Willie about how he’s getting on, so hopefully he comes out and runs a big race there.

“He’s got a high cruising speed. It was such a shame what happened in the Irish National. He was there to win it and something took his eye off the ball at the last fence and he made a mess of it. But he made up for it next time at Punchestown.

“We know he’s a good horse, we know Willie is training him for the Gold Cup, so hopefully we’ll get him there in one piece in March.”

Five horses to follow on Saturday: first two picks strike at 7-2 and 6-4

Ryan Moore: the inside track on my Irish Oaks day rides including Amelia Earhart

Grade One-winning jockey Henry Brooke forced into retirement due to injury

Dave Nevison's Saturday tips: 20-1 shot among four bets

Martin Dixon's Saturday tips: "He will take plenty of stopping"

Featured offers

Bet £10 get £40 in free bets with Kwiff

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

New UK customers. Place a £10 real money bet at min. 2.0 odds within 5 days of deposit. Get 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 Single, 2 Accas & 1 Bet Builder (min. 3 selections each). Excludes cashout, E/W, Multis, Ineligible Markets & Odds Boosts. Credited after bet settlement. 7-day expiry. T&Cs apply. 18+ | GambleAware

Get a £50 free bet when you bet £50 with Coral

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

Coral: Get a £50 free bet when you bet £50

Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with TalkSportBet

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

TalkSportBet: Bet £10 get £30 in Horse Racing Free Bets

Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets with BallyBet

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

New members only, must opt in. Deposit & bet min. £10 within 30 days at min. 1/2 odds, excl. odds & profit boost. Free Bets: 3 x £10 tokens (odds & bet leg restrictions apply), non-withdrawable, issued on settlement, valid 30 days, stake not returned. T&Cs: www.ballycasino.co.uk/terms. Play Responsibly. GambleAware.org. 18+ #AD

Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets + Money Back as a Free Bet if 2nd to SP Favourite - Curragh - Irish Oaks Weekend with BOYLE Sports

T&Cs Apply

Claim Now

18+ New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. T&Cs Apply 18+. IRE/NI online only. Max Free Bet £/€10. Win or win part of e/w outright singles. 5+ runners. 1st bet on each race. Free/void/antepost bets don't qualify. In event of a dead heat, offer won’t apply. Applies to First Past the Post result. Unnamed 2nd Favs don’t qualify. Acc & Payment restrictions T&Cs apply.

Please bet responsibly

My Account

Home

Watch

Live

Replays

On Demand

Catch Up

Tv Schedule

RTV Play Schedule

Racecards

Today's Runners

Non-Runners

Tommorow's Runners

Racing Calendar

Results

Tips

Racing TV Tipsters

Nap Of The Day

News

All

Latest

Highlights

Columnists