Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

BALLYBURN and Dancing City had long been spoken about as Willie Mullins standout contenders for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase and even though both completely misfired, Cheltenham’s most successful trainer of all time still managed to collect with 20/1 outsider Lecky Watson.

Continuing a challenging start to the meeting for odds-on favourites, last season’s 13-length Turners Novices’ Hurdle winner never jumped with any fluency as 4/7 favourite and raced too keenly to prove effective on his first try at the extended three miles.

Dancing City had the run of the race yet dropped away disappointingly from the front to be last of the six finishers, while Ballyburn could only finish one place in front, probably even doing well to be beaten eight and a half lengths given his inefficiencies.

All the while, Sean O’Keeffe - seeking his third Festival success - got an excellent tune from the Slaneyville Syndicate-owned stayer, who finished fifth in last season’s Albert Bartlett behind Stellar Story – this year’s staying-on second under Danny Gilligan.

Better Days Ahead completed the placings in third, beaten only a head for the runner-up spot.

The winner was stepping up markedly from his previous win in Grade 3 company at Punchestown in January.

“All season he has improved. Sean kept it very simple and it was an excellent ride,” said Mullins.

“I hadn’t been planning to go the Gold Cup route with this one, but we have to go that way now.

“You have got to turn up to the races and find out what you have. It’s fantastic for his connections as they are well used to having winners here with Hardy Eustace and it is nice to be back in the winner’s enclosure for them. They know how to celebrate!” As for Ballyburn, Mullins added: “He was gone early and he wasn’t travelling in my mind, and then he made that bad mistake. The game was over early for him, but we might now go back in trip with him and maybe make more use of him.

“I don’t think he enjoyed being put in the box seat there and they weren’t going fast enough for him.

“Dancing City was travelling well until he made a mistake at the last and I thought Quai De Bourbon was travelling really well until he unshipped his rider over at the final ditch. I think they are all nice horses to look forward to next season.”

Lecky Watson is now a 25/1 chance for next year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup - the same price as Ballyburn, who is 12/1 for the 2026 Ryanair Chase.

Danny Gilligan, rider of Stellar Story (second)

“His jumping is really starting to come together. That was a great performance by him. His jumping has come together, so hopefully there are better days ahead with him.”

Darragh O’Keeffe, rider of Gorgeous Tom (fourth)

“He ran a blinder. It was his first run over the trip and he stayed at it really well. Really happy with him.”

Paul Townend, rider of Ballyburn (fifth)

“It’s obviously not his run, he did nothing right. We will have to have a look and maybe change tactics or something.”