Ballyburn © Photo Healy Racing
Ballyburn had to work harder than expected for victory in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown but still helped Willie Mullins become the most successful trainer in Irish racing history.
Mullins moved past the great Dermot Weld with career win number 4,378, even though the latest star to emerge from his Closutton production line was a little below par.
A couple of sloppy jumps left Paul Townend nudging the 1-5 market leader on the turn for home, but he soon reeled in front-running stablemate Mirazur West once straightening up.
Jessica Harrington ’s Jetara came out of the chasing pack to move into second place, but Ballyburn produced a fine leap when it mattered most at the last to quickly ease any fears of an upset.
Although not as impressive as when powering home in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, the six-year-old completed a hat-trick of Grade One triumphs with three and a quarter lengths to spare.
On his record-breaking feat, Mullins said: “Dermot pioneered going down to Australia and won the Belmont Stakes, an American Triple Crown race. He’s done superb things, so to be mentioned alongside him is fantastic.”
“We were delighted with the way our fella finished. He's still not mature and he's racing too much throughout the race.
“Once he learns to settle a bit more and use his power at the end of the race I think he's going to a super horse.
“We can go either direction with him. Two miles, two-and-a-half and on his pedigree he can go out to three miles.
“I was just chatting to his point-to-point rider and he said he's a fabulous jumper of a fence so we have all that to put into the mix and see what direction we got in the future.
“A few of ours ran a bit flat earlier in the day and we were wondering would this fella do the same but he didn't. Good horses just dig deep and they do it.”
On breaking the record for winning-most trainer:- “It's tremendous to break Dermot Weld's record. Dermot broke lots of records and is a super trainer.
“He went to Australia and won the Melbourne Cup and to America to win the Belmont Stakes. Anytime you can do something that Dermot Weld did I'm in very privileged company.
“I imagine someone else will come and break those records, with new fixtures every year. Numbers and records are there to be broken and it's just great to be here in this position.”
Townend told RTE: "He'd to get down and dirty today. He was flashy in Cheltenham but had to get down and battle today. He ground it out well, he's a good horse.
"He was keen today but he's learning more about racing and I think as he gets older, he'll relax. He's not going to be a tearaway and he never is. Man versus beast, beats always wins so he's not that keen!
On the jockeys' title race (now four behind Jack Kennedy), he added: "I'll keep trucking away, trying to bag Grade Ones and winners, and what will be will be."
