BRILLIANT triple Grade 1 winner Ballyburn looked a natural on his first start over fences at the Punchestown Premiere Weekend, making all on his way to a 13-length success over stablemate Ocastle Des Mottes.
There was lots to like about how the Cheltenham Festival-winning six-year-old adapted to the larger obstacles, well able to size up his fences nimbly, while also being bolder at the second last.
Paul Townend never had to get serious with Ronnie Bartlett and David Manasseh’s charge, who was following in the footsteps of last year’s Arkle winner Gaelic Warrior by winning this two-mile-three-furlong Conway Piling Beginners’ Chase.
A relieved Willie Mullins said: “He did things very well and took a good blow during the race, which means there is a lot of improvement to come. A lot of ours are running that way, so it was a worry going out.”
When asked if Christmas would look a natural next step for Ballyburn, Mullins said: “There’s no race for him at Christmas [at Leopardstown]. He won’t be going to Limerick, he won’t be going to Leopardstown. He’ll go somewhere else.”
Asked about the newly-upgraded Grade 2 novice chase at Naas in January, he added: “We might do that or go to England. We haven’t been looking past today. One nice race is gone [the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown], so that’s disappointing, but we’ll be finding somewhere else to go.”
Ballyburn’s Arkle odds tightened up slightly to between 6/4 and 2/1 after this.
No stopping Weather
Tiernan Power Roche has been enjoying a terrific spell with his 7lb claim and notched one of his biggest winners yet in the €45,000 Ryans Cleaning Handicap Chase, aboard the Ray Cody-trained Watch The Weather.
The 10/1 shot, owned by Sean Connors, was ridden with patience and finished with a wet sail to pull three and three quarters of a length clear of Mr Saxobeat.
Cody said: “It’s the first time that Tiernan rode for me and he gave him a lovely ride. He’s better on better ground, but jumped for fun. This is a great pot to win before he goes on his holidays.”
GORDON Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud took full advantage of a disappointing turnout for the Grade 2 Boodles Florida Pearl Novice Chase, with the trainer-owner combination responsible for the only three runners in the race won by last year’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle scorer Stellar Story.
In a slowly-run event, the 8/15 favourite guessed at a few of his obstacles and gave his supporters a real scare when going much too long at the sixth last fence. Jack Kennedy kept enough momentum up, however, to repel a spirited effort from Search For Glory, who may have turned around the short-head margin of defeat, but for a mistake at the last.
Elliott said: “It was a competitive race and neither Stellar Story or Search For Glory wanted to be in front. They’re big, three-mile staying-chasers and were idle in front.
“All credit goes to Michael O’Leary for running all three. It’d be disappointing if he didn’t. I’d imagine the first two could go for similar races now, likely over three miles at Christmas.”
Elliott and Kennedy brought up a treble on the day when Binge Worthy (17/2) rattled home in the colours of Denis Gallagher Racing to make a winning first start of the season in the Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Qualifier Handicap Hurdle.
“I’m a little surprised, but the horses are flying,” said Elliott. “He kept going well and we’ll find something similar for him.”
McConnell strikes
The most commanding winner of the entire card came in the concluding Mervyn Gray Construction Bumper as Heads Up (4/1) spreadeagled the field under Finn Buckley for trainer John McConnell and owner Darragh McDonagh.
Well-supported 8/15 favourite Jacob’s Ladder completely failed to fire, but he likely would have had his work cut out anyway, given how the recent Galway runner-up bolted up by 24 lengths.
“How did I get him beaten in two bumpers before this?” quipped McConnell.
“We couldn’t believe he’d been beaten previously. He’s still a little bit immature mentally, but has enormous ability. We’ll stick to bumpers now, but jumping is his game in time. Finn said he felt like he was never out of second gear the whole way.”
DARRAGH O’Keeffe and Henry de Bromhead have been a potent force through the early winter exchanges and a double for the pair to start the Punchestown Premiere Weekend made it 11 winners together in the space of 21 days.
Butch Cassidy (3/1), a half-brother to Champion Bumper heroine Fayonagh, showed a terrific attitude to make a winning stable/hurdles debut for the in-form duo in what looked a decent Sebden Steel Maiden Hurdle over just shy of two and a half miles.
Carrying the colours of Sue Magnier, the Walk In The Park four-year-old had won a bumper on his only other start when trained by Philip Fenton and found generously for pressure here to see off Goffs Defender Bumper winner Sermandzarak by half a length.
“He’s good, isn’t he?” said de Bromhead, after Butch Cassidy received quotes of 33/1 for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle.
“I’m delighted to get a winner for the Magniers, who are fantastic supporters. He could be really nice. I’d say we’ll stay at this trip for now. I loved his attitude. Darragh thought he’d improve for the experience.”
Bilbo bags it
O’Keeffe and de Bromhead completed their brace when Its Bilbo (7/4 fav) earned an introductory quote of 33/1 for the JCB Triumph Hurdle thanks to a promising display on his stable debut in the Total Event Rental 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle. Speaking after the French recruit’s three-quarter-length success for owner Matt Fitzgerald, de Bromhead said: “He’s a fine horse and I thought it was a nice performance. We might go to Leopardstown at Christmas.”