Willie Mullins’ horse Ballyburn backed for next race at Christmas which could confirm Cheltenham Festival target

4 days ago 9

WILLIE MULLINS’ all-conquering superstar Ballyburn has been backed for what could be his next race at Christmas.

The Closutton trainer was adamant last season’s Ballymore winner wouldn’t head to Limerick on December 28 for the Faugheen Novice Chase.

Paul Townsend at the Cheltenham Festival.

Does the market for Ballyburn’s potential next race suggest where Willie Mullins is leaning towards running him at Cheltenham?[/caption]

But Ballyburn has been clipped from 6-4 into as short as evens, according to Oddschecker, for the 2m3f Grade 1 won last year by Gaelic Warrior.

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Rich Ricci’s star went onto win the 2m Arkle at the Festival and Ballyburn is still favourite for that race.

But potentially running for a second time over the intermediate trip after his successful chasing debut last month hints Mullins might be yet to make up his mind on Ballyburn’s future target.

And he does remain the 5-1 favourite for the 3m Brown Advisory Novice Chase at the Festival.

Cheltenham bosses scrapped the 2m4f Grade 1 Turners Novice Chase as part of sweeping reforms for next year’s four-day meeting.

Ballyburn’s options were complicated further when stablemate Majborough – who won last season’s Triumph – made a ‘spectacular’ chasing debut last weekend.

The JP McManus-owned four-year-old produced an exceptional round of jumping over 2m at Fairyhouse.

His ‘electrifying’ RaceiQ data gave a score of 9.4 out of ten – by some way the best of all the novice chasers seen so far this season.

For comparison, second-best Touch Me Not has recorded 8.7 while Grade 1-winning L’Eau Du Sud has clocked 8.4.

Meanwhile, poor old Ballyburn, who jumped adequately but not with much exuberance on his debut over fences, was a lowly 6.7 when measured.

The RaceiQ data takes into account entry and exit speeds from jumps, time spent in the jumping envelope (30m before and after the fence) plus speed recovery time.

Some think Ballyburn, with his jumping style, would benefit from stepping up in trip, although the decision will probably come down to who Mullins has in each of the Cheltenham races.

He might want a stronger hand in the Arkle, where he looks set to take on the likes of Nicky Henderson’s Sir Gino, Dan Skelton’s L’Eau Du Sud and Henry de Bromhead’s Inthepocket.

Mullins also has multiple Grade 1 winner Dancing City for the 3m contest, as well as 16-1 chances Impaire Et Passe and Ile Atlantique.