Bally burns off rivals to land Novice Hurdle

Ballyburn, with Paul Townend, jumps the last on their way to winning the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle on day two. Pic: David Fitzgerald, Sportsfile.

Looks can be deceiving but form seldom is. 

The Willie Mullins-trained Ballyburn, the newly crowned Grade One Gallagher Novice Hurdle winner, may give the impression that he has more interest in running away than running to the line, that the grass below is more interesting to him than are the hurdles in front, but rider Paul Townend has his measure.