Ballyburn back on top with Leopardstown verdict

Ballyburn bounced back from an emphatic Christmas reverse at the hands of Sir Gino with a determined victory in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown.

A triple Grade One-winning novice hurdler last season, Ballyburn made a fine start to his career over fences at Punchestown in November but was no match for a rampant Sir Gino in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton over the festive period.

Stepping back up in trip, Ballyburn was the 8-13 favourite to land a Grade One contest his trainer Willie Mullins has farmed in recent years, with Faugheen (2020), Galopin Des Champs (2022) and last year’s victor Fact To File among those on the roll of honour.

Having sat in the slipstream of pacesetting stablemate Champ Kiely for much of the two-mile-five-furlong contest, Ballyburn took over after jumping the second fence from home and looked set to win decisively after cruising round the home turn in front.

But Croke Park – an 11-1 shot despite being a dual Grade One winner over fences already – kept the market leader honest all the way up the straight before Paul Townend’s mount found more on the run-in to pull five lengths clear. Impaire Et Passe was a further five and a half lengths behind in third.

Coral make Ballyburn their 2-1 favourite (from 11-4) to successfully step up to three miles in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.

Mullins said: “I never lost faith, Kempton was just a bit sharp for him and I suppose Kempton lit him up as well, so he was fairly lit today with Paul.

“I think he eventually got him settled and he was afraid to move on him then in case he took off again, so he didn’t do any racing until after the last and he did what he usually does – he just quickened up from the last home.

“He looks a decent horse and I loved what he did from the last to the line. Once Paul got to ask him, he flew.

“He’s bred to get three miles and it’s fascinating he was able to do what he did over two miles and everyone had him down as a two-miler, but looking at his page you’d have to think he wants a trip.

“I thought his jumping improved today, going that pace today over that trip it was going to be easier for him.”