Expert Analysis

What appeared one of the more competitive Graded races of an at-times disappointing Dublin Racing Festival was turned into something of a procession by the classy Ballyburn who forged away for a most authoritative success. It was well-run and backed up by a good time (fastest by some way of 3 hurdles and a bumper at trip on the card, though they did omit the first and final flight in this), with Ballyburn’s final 4f of 60.35s equating to a 99.3% finishing speed.

BALLYBURN (h156+ here and previously) is as good a novice hurdler as seen so far this season, though Caldwell Potter also gets a say in that argument, the pair of them both strong contenders for either/both the Supreme and/or the Baring Bingham at the Cheltenham Festival. He looked a class apart in this, despite far-from-negligible opposition, in second and travelling strongly with a low head carriage, disputing the lead mid-race and leading for sure after what would usually be 3 out, going clear before the usual last and merely pushed out as he ran on strongly. His times/splits compare well with State Man’s later on the card but crossing swords with the like of him is likely to be still some way off.

SLADE STEEL (h147 here, 144 previously) ran really well up against a good ‘un, especially as another half a mile would probably have helped, close up and second from some way out, outpaced by the winner but sticking to his task to finish clear of the rest.

KING OF KINGSFIELD (h139 here, 144 previously) ran respectably, no more, though he was set a bit to do, closing a bit after the usual 3 out but seeming to hang fire briefly and merely keeping on. He is worth a try at 20f.

ABSURDE (h134+6 here, 132 previously) ran better than the result and would be interesting in a good handicap hurdle (he’s an Ebor winner on the flat, of course), coming from the rear to be a quite close third early on the long run-in but weakening late on.

JIT LANGY (h133+ here, 127 previously) may well still have improvement in him after 4 runs over hurdles (2 in Ireland, including a Tipperary maiden in May), in rear and making a mistake at the usual 3 out but keeping on without posing a threat.

DADDY LONG LEGS (h122 here, 142 previously) again failed to confirm the form of his impressive hurdling debut win, though this was a little better, as he raced in touch until back-pedaling after the usual second-last.

GOLD DANCER (h113 here, ? previously) was left behind having raced in mid-field until the usual second-last. He is a hurdle winner in the French Provinces and can be expected to do better in due course.

FASCILE MODE (h106 here, 135 previously) ran poorly again, already dropping away when blundering at the usual second-last, and may be better off in handicaps.

FARREN GLORY (h0 here, 146 previously) ran as if not right, well there until weakening quickly approaching the usual second-last, and was found to have blood in his nostrils after the race.

BOHER ROAD (h0 here, 132? previously)