Willie Mullins’ horse suddenly backed off the boards in Cheltenham Festival ante-post market
WILLIE MULLINS’ star horse Ballyburn has been absolutely smashed in the Cheltenham Festival ante-post markets.
The Ronnie Bartlett-owned six-year-old is still the 10-3 favourite for the 2m5f Ballymore.
PAWill Ballyburn run in the Supreme or the Ballymore?[/caption]
But there was a tidal wave of support for him in the Supreme on Tuesday afternoon.
Having been around 12-1 for the first race of the Festival, Ballyburn is now into as short as 7-2 with William Hill, who are non-runner money back on all Cheltenham races.
He is a best-price 9-1 for the 2m contest following a sudden price collapse.
Ballyburn was a 25-length winner of a Leopardstown maiden hurdle over 2m4f last month.
And on his previous run over 2m he was beaten two-and-a-half lengths by Gordon Elliott’s Firefox.
That was Ballyburn’s only defeat – but the money suggests he could be going down in trip.
Firefox will run in the rearranged 2m4f Lawlor’s of Naas on Friday, while Ballyburn’s stablemate Ile Atlantique will lead the line for Mullins.
The Closutton handler will also have Mystical Power, Chapeau De Soleil, Lecky Watson and Readin Tommy Wrong.
No one has won more races at Cheltenham Festival than Mullins.
But it is an absolute minefield trying to figure out which of his horses will run where.
Speaking last November, Mullins hinted sticking to 2m was not out of the question for Ballyburn even as he headed the Ballymore market.
Mullins said: “On pedigree he’s bred to stay well, but with his method of racing at the moment he could even be a Supreme type.”
Nicky Henderson’s Jeriko Du Reponet remains the Supreme market leader at 7-2 with Hills.
While unbeaten Champion Bumper king A Dream To Share, who is yet to race this season, is a best-price 8-1 second-fav.
Another horse who could crash in the market on the weekend is Gordon Elliott’s Romeo Coolio.
Bought for £420,000, the record-breaking purchase won’t be 10-1 for the Champion Bumper for long if putting up a strong show at Fairyhouse.
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