Ballyburn takes Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase

Ballyburn (8/13f) was a fifth Grade 1 victory of the Dublin Racing Festival for trainer Willie Mullins as he claimed the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Running five furlongs further than when runner-up to Sir Gino at Kempton over Christmas, the Paul Townend-ridden son of Flemensfirth had to battle up the home straight to beat Gordon Elliott’s Croke Park (11/1).

It was a fourth Grade 1 of the 2025 Dublin Racing Festival for Townend, as the seven-year-old came home for a five-length success.

The second, Croke Park, in the hands of Sam Ewing, had five and a half lengths to spare on the third-placed finisher, Impaire Et Passe (11/4), ridden by J.J. Slevin.

Co Cork-born Townend admitted post race:

“He’s learning all the time. He learned a lot jumping at speed at Kempton. He was good today when I asked him but you’re trying to teach him on the job and that’s what I was doing. He wasn’t fast away from the last and Sam (Ewing) headed me but he picked up again.”