Kilmessan trainer takes Bellewstown feature

Jockey Bryan Cooper returned to action after a month on the sidelines with a winner for Kilmessan trainer Matthew Smith at Bellewstown this evening.

Winter Lion made all the running to land the feature race at Bellewstown this evening, the Fast Shipping Bellewstown Handicap Hurdle.

Previously trained in Tipperary by Denis Hogan before moving to Kilmessan more than 12 months ago, Winter Lion dead-heated on the flat at Limerick last month.

However, there was no doubt about the outcome this evening and Winter Lion won by over seven lengths from the Rachel Blackmore-partnered Grand Partner.

Castletown trainer Noel Meade was also in the winners' enclosure when he took the opportunity handicap hurdle with Jack Slade which is owned by a syndicate.

Gordon Elliott landed the bumper again this evening with Takeittothelimits for owner JP McManus who was also on the mark when Barry Geraghty won a maiden hurdle with three-time bumper winner Tesseract.

The next racing action at Bellewstown is the two-day August Festival on Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th.