Leopardstown racing tip: Mullins and Townend to continue Dublin Racing Festival domination
Paul Townend on Ballyburn
Willie Mullins looks set to continue his dominance in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival on Sunday afternoon.
13:40 Tattersalls Ireland 50th Derby Sale Novice Hurdle
The Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle will see 10 top-class horses go to post in one of the bigger fields on day two of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.
Paul Townend will be in the hot seat on Willie Mullins’ Ballyburn who is the overwhelming favourite with the bookies, now priced odds-on.
It’s worth noting that Paul Townend has a super 34% strike rate at Leopardstown.
Mullins tends to win this race and has done so in all but one renewal since 2013, which is hardly surprising when you consider he usually owns most of the field.
Ballyburn showed some blistering pace and a strong finish at his appearances at Punchestown last season and has followed that up over hurdles since.
He’s won at Fairyhouse and most recently here at Leopardstown this season and all the while it was clear he was capable of much more and against better company.
Planet Sport Bet Special: Bet £20 on any runner in the 13:40 at Leopardstown and if Ballyburn wins by over 8 lengths, get a £5 free bet!
Perhaps also unsurprisingly, Gordon Elliot is the only man to have stopped Mullins in his tracks.
His entrants Farren Glory and King of Kingsfield are second and fifth respectively in the betting with the former looking more likely on the back of constant improvement.
His latest Grade 1 win at Fairyhouse in December saw him motor past his stablemate King of Kingsfield in the closing stages of the race.
Henry de Bromhead could have a say with Slade Steel who is third in the market. He has recorded back-to-back wins over hurdles and had to show some battling qualities which will be needed here, but it remains to be seen if 2m will suit.
On the other hand, not much chance is given to Jarlath P Farley’s Boher Road or Thomas Mullins’ Fascile Mode. That unlikely pair are propping up the market at 150/1 at the time of writing.
Regardless of what challenge Elliot brings, it’s hard to ignore the dominance of Mullins, Townend and the impressive runs we’ve seen from Ballyburn so far.
Suggested bet: Back Ballyburn to win the 13:40 at Leopardstown
- Tip advised on Tipstrr
