” I wonder if Ballyburn had become one of those horses who makes his own bad luck? He looked like a difficult ride with that ridiculously low head carriage”
That’s the crux of it I think. You can’t shorten up a horse like that into an obstacle, and I imagine even manoeuvering between runners on a bend is that much harder. I know cutting horses have their heads right down- but they’re doing it all themselves and the rider just has to balance on top.