Ballyburn made his debut at Loughanmore in October 2022, winning a 3m 4y maiden point by 4 ½ l from Ossifer Hops, then after moving to Willie Mullins, made a winning rules debut at Punchestown in February last year, taking a 2m bumper by 2 ¼ l from Quantum Storm. In April at Punchestown, he won another 2m bumper by 6l from Dancing City.
He reappeared at Fairyhouse in December, finishing 2nd in a 2m maiden hurdle, beaten 2 ½ l by Firefox, then 3 weeks later at Leopardstown won a 2m maiden hurdle by 25 l from Cleatus Poolawand followed up in February over Course and distance in the grade 1 novice hurdle beating Slade Steel 7l. He then came to Cheltenham in March and won the 2m 5f grade 1 Gallaghers novice hurdle by 13 l from Jimmy Du Seuil, and finished the season with victory at Punchestown in May, winning the 2m 4f grade 1 Champion novice hurdle by 3 ¼ l from Jetara (received 7 lb).
He reappeared in November last year winning a 2m 3f Beginners chase at Punchestown, beating Ocastle Des Mottes 13l, then in December at Kempton in a 2m grade 2 novice chase at Kempton was 7 ½ l 2nd to Sir Gino (received 6lb). In February at Leopardstown he won the 2m 5f grade 1 Ladbrokes novice chase by 5l from Croke Park, then at Cheltenham in March finished a disappointing 5th in the 3m grade 1 Brown’s Advisory novice chase, beaten 8 ½ l behind Lecky Weston. He made a bad mistake at half way, so was not beaten far at the end, and ran much better on his final start at Punchestown finishing 2nd in the 3m 1f grade 1 Champion novice chase, beaten 6 1/2 l by Champ Kiely.
Willie Mullins told The Punter: "Ballyburn didn‘t really seem to enjoy his time over fences last season and the plan is to send him back hurdling with the Stayers’ Hurdle as his long-term aim. We brought him back in early and did a lot of groundwork with him to get him good and strong. He can of course go back over fences if we want to do that, but hurdling is what is on our minds for him for now."
Trainer W.Mullins
Eds Rating 3
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