WE know now that Bellshill can go both ways. He may have had only three rivals to beat in the Irish Gold Cup at (left-handed) Leopardstown and he may have been the beneficiary of a masterclass ride from Ruby Walsh, but he beat a top-class rival in Road To Respect.

You can see how the right-handed notion developed. The horse’s record going right handed reads 11111151, and the 5 was in last year’s Irish Grand National, when he ran a remarkable race under 11st 5lb, and was beaten by a length.

His record going left- handed before Sunday read 20211302F34. However, eight of those 11 runs at left-handed tracks were in Grade 1 races. He finished third in Might Bite’s RSA Chase, he was beaten a neck in the Sefton Hurdle at Aintree.

Bellshill recorded the highest Timeform rating of his career on Sunday going left-handed. Five of his best 10 Timeform ratings now were at left-handed tracks.