Ballyburn made impressively light work in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.
The 1-2 favorite was one of five runners for conqueror Willie Mullins and traveled strongly behind the leaders under Paul Townend.
As the field rounded the final bend there was no doubt about the result, with the six-year-old, owned by Ronnie Bartlett, pulling away from teammate Jimmy Du Seuil to win by 13 lengths.
‘It’s not a big field. I had a lot of respect for the horses behind them, but he pulled them out of the water. It was a bigger performance than he expected,” winning jockey Paul Townend told ITV.
Paul Townend won the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle at a canter on Wednesday at Cheltenham
‘His bark is much worse than his bite. If you got in a row with him, there is only one winner, but you can let him hang his head. Is very good.’
Co-owner David Manasseh added: ‘It’s been a long journey. Just for him to be here today. I’m here and I managed to win at Cheltenham. I can not believe it.’
The Ballyburn triumph was Mullins’ 98th victory at Cheltenham and even the legendary trainer was impressed by the performance.
‘That was a Champion Hurdle performance. “Really, really spectacular,” he stated.
‘With their size, reach and pedigree, maybe our owners will decide to go hunting next year, I don’t know. But with that performance he can go anywhere.”