Ballyburn can vindicate Gallagher decision with smooth success
Ballyburn on the Cheltenham gallops on Tuesday morning. Pic: David Davies/PA
Ballyburn is difficult to oppose in the Grade One Gallagher Novice Hurdle. For much of the year, he was favourite for the Supreme, but connections chose this as the better fit for the six-year-old and he can vindicate that decision with a smooth success.
Unbeaten in point-to-points and bumpers, he suffered the first defeat of his career when runner-up to Firefox on his hurdling debut, but righted that wrong with a wide-margin success second time up.
He then jumped straight into top company at the Dublin Racing Festival and the result was just the same. The manner in which he brushed aside the smart Slade Steel marked him down as quite likely the best novice hurdler in training, and he can enhance his reputation by taking the day’s opener.
Stablemates Ile Atlantique and Predators Gold are behind him in the market and the former is just preferred as the bigger danger. Fair to say he has been touched off in races in which he looked likely to come out on top, but he also gives the impression there is plenty more to come from him. Conditions are a help, and he looks sure to run a big race.
The feature on day two is the Grade One Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase and in the absence of Jonbon, this ought to be a cakewalk for El Fabiolo. He is unbeaten in six chases to date and, barring accidents, number seven looks like a formality. He couldn’t be described as the most fluent of jumpers but an adequate round of jumping is all he needs to see off these rivals.
Only six runners have been declared for the Brown Advisory Novice Chase, but it is a competitive race. Fact To File is probably short enough for what he has thus far achieved but there was a huge amount to like about the way he won at Leopardstown on his penultimate start and if he is going to develop into the type of horse which connections clearly believe him to be, he has to come out on top today.
Although there were just two runners in his most recent assignment, he again impressed with his jumping and the way he stretched clear of Gaeilc Warrior before that one departed.
His stamina for this trip is not proven but he gives the impression he will stay and, that being so, he will take a great deal of beating.
American Mike, who beat the selection when they met earlier in the season at Navan, has been supplemented for the race and must be respected, while Monty's Star ran out an impressive winner last time and everything about this race should suit him. As a small caveat, he ran poorly at this meeting last year, but he has been kept fresh this time and should show up much more prominently.
The Champion Bumper looks fiercely competitive but Jasmin De Vaux was most impressive when making a winning track debut in late January and looks like a top prospect for the seasons ahead.
The choice of Patrick Mullins from a strong Closutton team, he travels well, stays particularly well, and is at home in the conditions he will encounter here. He can wrap up what looks like being another great day at Cheltenham for Willie Mullins.
1:45 BallyburnÂ
2:30 Fact To FileÂ
3:15 Black BambooÂ
4:00 El FabioloÂ
4:50 MaskadaÂ
5:30 Jasmin De Vaux (NB)Â
1:45 Ile AtlantiqueÂ
2:30 Monty’s StarÂ
3:15 JigoroÂ
4:00 Captain GuinnessÂ
4:50 Sa FureurÂ
5:30 Jalon D’oudairies
