From La Touche glory to a Flat handicap at Killarney - can Busselton complete an unusual double?

Busselton is nothing if not versatile. Just 12 days after he jumped banks, hedges and any obstacle you could imagine, he heads to Killarney to jump nothing. 

This year's La Touche winner at the Punchestown festival is quickly back in action as Joseph O'Brien tries to exploit a Flat mark of 86 in this fascinating staying handicap which has a whole host of familiar faces in it. 

Busselton's last appearance on the Flat was in a Tramore handicap last August, and the previous month he won a Flat handicap at the Galway festival off a mark of 80, so he is no back number in this code. He arrives here fit and healthy and you can expect Dylan Browne McMonagle to be very positive and get him across from his wide stall 13 as quickly as possible. 

O'Brien has won this prize twice in the last five years with Shakespear'sgalley (2019) and Monty's Way (2022).

Other runners are also better known for their jumping exploits. Zanahiyr was third to Constitution Hill in the 2023 Champion Hurdle and a close-up third in last summer's Galway Plate off a mark of 145. He is now rated 149 over fences and 152 over hurdles, so a Flat mark of just 77 is very interesting. 

And, what about the legendary Lord Erskine? On his 69th run at the age of 12, he won a hot handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse's Easter festival and looked as good as ever in doing so. He's a 131-rated hurdler running off a mark of 80 and should never be underestimated. 

A solid each-way option might be The Banger Doyle. He was second in this race last year and looks sure to be in the thick of things off just a 2lb higher mark with a good draw in stall six. 

Going update

After two days of jumping action at Killarney, the first Flat meeting of the three-day festival takes place on good to yielding ground following watering. Dry and warm weather forecast.

What they say 

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Busselton
He's been training well since winning the La Touche at Punchestown. The course and distance here will suit him well and, if he copes with conditions, he should have a live each-way chance.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Mo Ghille Mar
She's in great form and has a good draw, too. I would like to think she's got a decent chance and will run well. I'm very happy with her.

Harry Rogers, trainer of Lord Erskine
He's unbelievable – all he does is eat, sleep and drink. He's a legend. He came out of his win at Fairyhouse really well and everything is good with him. The ground was yielding for the jumps card  but if it's too quick I won't run him.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Mordor and Zanahiyr
Zanahiyr is interesting off his mark and we thought it was worth bringing him back to the Flat and seeing what he could do. He came down early in the Ultima Chase at Cheltenham, which was a pity and I fancied him to run really well there. Mordor is a tough and consistent sort who always seems to run his race and I wouldn't be one bit surprised if he were bang there at the business end of this.

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