One of the most promising up-and-coming horses in the world of racing today, learn more about Ballyburn’s career so far with our race record and fact file.
At eight years old, Ballyburn has become one of the hottest prospects in National Hunt racing. His impressive race record has turned the heads of many experts, and he’s expected to be a major player in the Cheltenham Festival betting market for the Stayers’ Hurdle.
To help you learn more, we’ve put together a profile on Ballyburn’s career. From his biggest wins to facts about his trainer and jockey, we’ll help you become an expert on one of Ireland’s most outstanding hurdlers in no time. Here’s everything you need to know about Ballyburn ahead of his next races:
An introduction to Ballyburn
A bay gelding foaled in January 2018, Ballyburn has become one of the most promising hurdlers of recent years. Trained by 19-time Irish National Hunt Champion trainer Willie Mullins, and most often jockeyed by four-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Paul Townend, Ballyburn has had an impressive career since his first race in October 2022.
He has earned £363,746 in 12 races, becoming one of the most promising up-and-comers of the 2020s. Here’s a quick fact file about the horse to help you remember some key stats:
Age: 8 years old (foaled 11th January 2018)
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Trained in: Ireland
What is Ballyburn’s race record?
At the time of writing, Ballyburn has competed in only 12 professional races, but with 8 wins and 3 second-place finishes, he’s shown incredible consistency throughout his career. As of November 2025, he has only failed to place in one race (the 2025 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, where he finished in fifth).
The best year of Ballyburn’s career so far, though, was 2024, when he placed first in six of his seven races, only having his winning streak broken by a second-place finish at Kempton in December.
Interestingly, he has found most of his success in hurdle events, with a 4-1-0 record in 5 races, earning him a total of £227,032. Notably, Ballyburn has also raced in the same number of steeplechases, with total earnings of £122,338. As such – and it shouldn’t come as a surprise – his hurdling ability has been the main attraction!
What are Ballyburn’s major wins?
Although Ballyburn is just a few years into his racing career, he has already won multiple Grade 1 National Hunt races. Here are some of his highlights:
Cheltenham Festival
Ballyburn has competed at the Cheltenham Festival twice, most recently in the 2025 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, the first race of his career in which he failed to place. However, with a 1-2 record, he has plenty of potential to grow into one of the Festival’s fiercest competitors.
Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle
In 2024, Paul Townend rode Ballyburn to a stunning 13-length victory in the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle. This was Ballyburn’s first win at the festival, further cementing Willie Mullins’ Cheltenham legacy as the most successful trainer in the event’s history.
Other events
Cheltenham isn’t the only racecourse that Ballyburn has found success on, however. Here are some of his other greatest performances:
Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle
In May 2024, Ballyburn placed first in the Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle, leading over runner-up Jetara by three-and-a-quarter lengths. He was the clear favourite to win, starting at 1/5 odds, and earning €73,750.
Leopardstown Maiden Hurdle
Ballyburn claimed victory at Leopardstown Racecourse during 2023’s Pigsback.com Maiden Hurdle. Despite being the clear favourite to win with starting odds of 2/9, his incredible 25-length victory over runner-up Cleatus Poolaw was still a shock – and is the most dominant performance of his career so far.
What is Ballyburn’s next race?
Ballyburn is expected to compete in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival, and taking home first place is likely to be his next major goal. The Champion Hurdle is another major event at the festival that Mullins may be tempted by, but it’s more likely that horse and trainer will focus on the Stayers’ Hurdle for now.
Who owns Ballyburn?
Ballyburn is joint-owned by Ronnie Bartlett and David Manasseh. Bartlett has a number of horses in training in both Ireland and Britain, while Manasseh is known outside the horse racing scene as a leading football agent.
Who is Ballyburn’s trainer?
Willie Mullins, the legendary Irish horse trainer, has trained Ballyburn throughout his career. Although Mullins began his career as a jockey, he is now the most successful trainer in Cheltenham history, with 113 wins to his name.
Who is Ballyburn’s jockey?
Irish jockey Paul Townend, who is known for his partnership with Willie Mullins, has been racing Ballyburn since late 2023 when he took over from Mullins’ son, Patrick. Townend has shot to fame in recent years, with four Gold Cup wins and an iconic Grand National victory under his belt. He is now one of Cheltenham’s most successful jockeys of all time, and a Betway ambassador.
How to bet on Ballyburn this season?
Looking to follow Ballyburn’s next races? Head to our horse racing betting page for the latest odds on all the biggest events across the National Hunt calendar! You can also read our helpful guide on how to bet on horse racing for a crash course in placing your first bet.
