Dublin Racing Festival: Ballyburn looking to get back on track over longer trip

Ballyburn is a hot favourite to beat stablemate Impaire Et Passe in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown, despite being well beaten by Sir Gino when he was last seen at Christmas.

Willie Mullins sent the highly regarded seven-year-old over to Kempton for the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase due to a lack of two-mile options in Ireland over the festive period.

The plan backfired, though, as he could not live with Nicky Henderson’s Arkle favourite and such was the manner of the defeat, Ballyburn now steps back up to the distance over which he was so impressive at Cheltenham last March over hurdles.

"We found out at Kempton that he just couldn’t jump at that pace," said Mullins.

"Now, Sir Gino could be a superstar, so if there wasn’t Sir Gino there, he might have been adequate, but at least we found out we’re not going down the two-mile route with him.

"It was disappointing to go there and get beat but my only other option was to go to Limerick and the race I had marked out for Impaire Et Passe.

"I thought what is the point in burning two bullets for one race and he should have gone to Leopardstown, but they took away that race.

"I was surprised he was favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last year and we ran him in the other race – and I think looking at his pedigree and the stamp of horse he is, he has stayer written all over him.

"We hope his attitude will let him stay, he will have to settle and do more things right, but that is all part of growing up."

Having looked imperious as a novice hurdler, Impaire Et Passe did not come up to scratch against the best last season until he bloomed in the spring, winning at Aintree and Sandown.

He has looked very good in two outings over fences to date, beating a strong field at Limerick