Willie Mullins and his stand-in stable jockey Paul Townend completed a treble at Naas today as Ballyward produced, in the words of the Champion Trainer, a “very dour performance.. in a hell of a race” to win the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle.

Ballyward raced prominently throughout and while runner-up As You Were was a persistent threat in the home straight, Ballyward and Townend forced themselves to a half length win.

Runner-up As You Were could be considered an unlucky loser however, as the Alan Fleming trained, Denis O'Regan partnered gelding seemed to shy away from the tap at the start of the race, thereby losing some ground.

Mullins, earlier successful with Jayo and Sandsend later commented “I think that was a hell of a race and I'd be tempted to bring him for either the Ballymore or the Albert Bartlett after that sort of performance.

“The two horses pulled right away from the others, and our fellow was at it up there all the way through the race.

“That was a very dour performance and he's a funny horse, as if he wasn't pulling, he was pulling up. He was green halfway up the straight and when he got something to battle with, he kept going. He was idling when he was left in front after the second last.

"I think he had to run two races in one there and still won. I think he's a fair sort and he can only improve. He disappointed me at Christmas, and he should improve away to the spring.

"I don't know if we have time to give him another run before bringing him across; he'll probably have to go on that run."

Paddy Power bookmaker later cut Ballyward to 14/1 (from 20s) for the Albert Bartlett Hurdle while also introducing him (both NRNB) at 25/1 for the Ballymore Hurdle, at the Cheltenham Festival.

Quotes from Alan Magee