Ballyburn the class act in novice hurdle

Ballyburn proved much too strong for his rivals when powering clear in the home straight to land the Grade 1 Tattersalls Derby Sale Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.

It was a quick double on the car for the all conquering Willie Mullins as the 10/11 shot took command to record a wide margin success.

Paul Townend let his mount jump to the front in the back straight and he had his rivals struggling turning for home in the two-miler.

The Flemensfirth gelding really opened up going around the bypassed last flight (due to low lying sun) and strode out impressively to record a seven-length success over Slade Steel .

🚀 Lovely prospect

Ballyburn tastes G1 honours with a smooth performance in the Tattersalls Ireland 50th Derby Sale Novice Hurdle @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/61FzMdcTLA

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 4, 2024

Mullins said:- “He met hurdle after hurdle right and was in control the whole way. Paul was very happy with how he did things.

“He did everything right over the minimum trip which is good.

“He has a very low head carriage which is usually a good sign in a horse, I like it, but it's not nice for the jockeys at times.”

Townend told RTE:- “I thought we went a nice honest gallop, I was happy enough to make it if that's the way the cards fell but Donagh (Meyler) elected to go on.

“I jumped through on his inside down the back and he didn't miss a beat jumping, and we knew he stayed.

“It's a bit deceiving, Willie thought I was mad when I said he wasn't pulling too much the first day and he looked like he was pulling like a train. That's just the way he carries himself and he can do that once he keeps winning.

“It's a long way to the second last to the line without a jump there but he was always going to stay galloping, he's tough out.”

Betfair made the winner 7/4 favourite (from 9/2) for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and 2/1 (from 4/1) for the Ballymore.

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)