Lecky Watson claims shock Grade 1 victory after stablemate and hot favourite Ballyburn disappoints

Willie Mullins came out on top in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase but not with what appeared to be his main hopes when 20-1 chance Lecky Watson stormed to a shock victory in the Grade 1.

The champion trainer saddled four of the six runners in the race and the seven-year-old took full advantage after odds-on favourite Ballyburn and second string Dancing City disappointed.

A winner at the festival 12 months ago in the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle, Ballyburn did not appear to be travelling well from the very start and a mistake, which almost unseated jockey Paul Townend at the seventh fence, proved costly as he was unable to build any real momentum after that.

Dancing City, the other leading fancy for Mullins, was going well until crashing through the third-last fence and almost unseating Danny Mullins.

Gordon Elliott, still waiting for his first victory at this year's festival, was denied again as 22-1 shot Stellar Story finished second, while stablemate Better Days Ahead was a head behind in third.

What the winning trainer said

Willie Mullins: "All season he has improved. We just said to Sean [O’Keeffe] maybe go a little bit wider and keep out of trouble. Sean kept it very simple, and it was an excellent ride. I hadn’t been planning to go the Gold Cup route with this one, but we have to go that way now. You've got to turn up to the races and find out what you have. Ballyburn was gone early and he wasn’t travelling in my mind, then he made that bad mistake. The game was over early for him, but we might now go back in trip and maybe make more use of him. I don’t think he enjoyed being put in the box seat there and they weren’t going fast enough for him."

What the winning rider said

Sean O'Keeffe onboard Lecky Watson after winning the Grade 1Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Sean O'Keeffe: "I’m over the moon and I can’t believe it. I was delighted when I got the ride and I saw he went out to a big enough price, but I thought if I got him jumping he’d have a big chance. It’s amazing to be able to come over here and pick up rides like this; you never know what might happen. Michael O’Sullivan was a big fan of this horse and he always said he’d win a big race. Michael stayed in the house in Cheltenham with us the last few years. He was a good friend and will always be missed."