Champion trainer Willie Mullins is past halfway in his annual Punchestown plunder and today registered a four-timer at the festival with impressive winner Ballyburn (10/11f) in the concluding JP & M Doyle Bumper.

Ridden by son and champion amateur jockey Patrick Mullins, Ballyburn quickened away 'in a plume of smoke' according to racecourse commentator Jerry Hannon, rattling home to beat stablemate Dancing City by six-lengths.

Mullins is currently three winners ahead of his last year's corresponding Day Three haul, having had a four-timer on Tuesday and a treble yesterday, and reported “it was a really good performance. Once again he pulled very hard but once Patrick got him down to gallop he picked up well.

“To run away from a nice field of bumper horses, that’s nice for Ronnie (Bartlett, joint owner with football agent David Manasseh) for next season.”

Quotes from Alan Magee