Ballyburn strengthens Willie Mullins’ hold on Cheltenham Bumper
A look back at the rest of the action from Punchestown, where Ballyburn strengthened Willie Mullins’ position in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival.
Willie Mullins tightened his grip on the Weatherbys Champion Bumper when Ballyburn driven home to land the Hospitality At Festival 2023 (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race in Punchestown.
A stunning winner of his only point-to-point tournament, he was sent off with 7/4 as the second favorite behind Irish Panther in the hands of Patrick Mullins for breaking the rules.
Flemensfirth’s son was consistently eager during the pursuit of pacemaker Quantum Storm, taking some time to get into top gear once he hit the straight, but at the finish the afterburners were firmly engaged as he hit a two-and-one Departure registered – quarter-long success.
The winner was cut from 14 seconds to 7/1 for the Cheltenham Festival bumper by Paddy Power, meaning the Closutton handler is now responsible for five of the top six on the market for the Prestbury Park Grade One he is ahead of 12 months ago with Facile Vega.
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“It was a very good performance from horse and jockey. He was too eager all the way and to produce a run like that, after running a mile and three quarters so eagerly, he showed he’s got a lot left in the drawer,” Mullins said.
“He’s a horse we’re really looking forward to jumping on.
“He looks like a real chaser but he probably booked a ticket to Cheltenham with that run.
“He seems an exciting recruit for Ronnie Bartlett and David Manasseh, who is a football agent.
“It looked like a fair race, on very hard ground.”
Mullins was also on the scorer list when the Danny Mullins-ridden skin urchins (5/1) took advantage of favorite Harmonya Maker, who unseated Jordan Gainford to win Listed Apple’s Jade Mares Novice Hurdle
“It was another good tactical ride from Danny, I thought,” Mullins said.
“They started very fast and everything that was up there early couldn’t keep up the pace. It took a lot to get to that pace and she showed us she’s a stander.
“She was very eager early in her career but now she’s learning how to settle down and race.
“She could get an entry in a handicap at Cheltenham or maybe wait for Fairyhouse. We’ll see what kind of rating she gets. You could watch the Martin Pipe or the Coral Cup.”
Secret Tom improved Enda Bolger’s record in the ARKequine Aquatabs Inline PP Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase.
The Howardstown handler has won seven of the last 10 rounds of this competition, with the last four victories all coming on behalf of lead owner JP McManus.
And it was the green and gold silks that carried Simon Torrens to success again as he came home on 8/1 shot a length and a half ahead of the 7/2 favorite Singing Banjos.
“He drove a nice race here in the spring. I gave the other two a better chance because he hadn’t run in Killarney since last August,” said Bolger.
“He got a nice ride from Simon and he was nice and patient with him. He’s only seven so he’ll be a nice horse for this game going forward.
“I was glad I had him with me today because the other two guys were underperforming. He’s found his niche so we’re going to stick with him.”
A trip to the cross-country equivalent at the Cheltenham Festival is out of the question for the winner, but it seems all roads lead back to the Kildare Track for the La Touche Cup during Punchestown Festival.
“Let’s see, I’ll talk to the boss and see what he wants to do – whether the experience would do him any good,” added Bolger.
“All roads definitely lead to La Touche with him and he would also go to nicer ground, which is a plus for the spring meeting.
“Cheltenham is a pretty hot race and we’ll have to see where Galvin will show up too. We’re only rated 105, but he surpasses that.
“He hadn’t run for a while so we’ll see how he comes out of that and make a decision. The entries don’t close for a few weeks anyway. He would be the only one for it.”
Torrens was also on board Patrick Foley Green place (5/2 Favourite) in winning the David Trundley Artist At Punchestown Handicap Hurdle.
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