Ballymore Novice Hurdle at Naas ideal for Koktail Brut

The unbeaten pair Davy Crockett and Love Me Tender could bid to give Willie Mullins a record-extending tenth success in Ireland's first Grade One of 2026 - the Ballymore Novice Hurdle - as the exciting pair feature among the champion trainer's eight entries at Naas on January 4.

Ballymore are the new sponsors of the 2m4f event which has an illustrious roll of honour, including multiple Cheltenham Festival winners Bob Olinger and Envoi Allen in the last decade.

Last year's winner The Yellow Clay went agonisingly close to following up at the Cheltenham Festival in March only to be denied close home by The New Lion. The Yellow Clay was Elliott's fifth success in the race since 2017 and the in-form trainer is responsible for 11 of the 29 entries this time around. 

Recent Royal Bond winner Koktail Brut could be pointed towards Naas next following his brave victory over Blake at Fairyhouse last month, while other eye-catching entries from the Elliott stable include wide-margin maiden hurdle winner Skylight Hustle and the highly regarded Classical Creek. 

"It's a race I really like and we've won it with some lovely horses over the years," Elliott said of the Ballymore Novice Hurdle. 

"It was the first race that popped into my head for Koktail Brut after he won the Royal Bond. Jack [Kennedy] was impressed with him that day and we both thought he might appreciate going up in trip so this would be the ideal race to do that. He jumps well and has taken really well to hurdling. 

"He has the option of going to Leopardstown over Christmas, but, if we don't go there, he'll be heading to Naas for sure."

On some of his other entries in the race, Elliott added: "We could run a few of them in it and I'd be very surprised if we just had the one runner in the race. Skylight Hustle has lots of pace and he impressed Jack at Fairyhouse. He impressed me, too. Classical Creek is a lovely prospect and Road Exile is a horse who never knows when he's beaten. He just keeps on galloping and won a hot maiden hurdle at Navan the other day. I'd like to think he has a bright future. I love his attitude."

Elliott first won the Grade 1 with Death Duty in 2017, while Battleoverdoyen (2019), Envoi Allen (2020), Ginto (2022) and The Yellow Clay (2025) have also done the business for the Cullentra-based trainer. 

His old rival Mullins has nine winners on the board thanks to the victories of Homer Wells (2005), Mikael D'haguenet (2009), Gagewell Flyer (2011), Briar Hill (2014), Mckinley (2015), Bellshill (2016), Next Destination (2018), Champ Kiely (2023) and Readin Tommy Wrong (2024). 

Davy Crockett and Love Me Tender are both three from three and owned by JP McManus. The first-named of that pair is 20-1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham with Paddy Power, while the latter is 25-1. But, the Ballymore Novice Hurdle tends to be more of a pointer towards the Turners Novices' Hurdle at the festival and Bob Olinger did that double in 2021 as well as Envoi Allen the year before. 

Other entries to note from the all-conquering Mullins yard are recent Navan maiden hurdle winner Saint Baco, whom Danny Mullins hailed a "fair beast" afterwards, and Le Divin Enfant, who won a Thurles maiden hurdle by 23 lengths last month. Sortudo looks a class act, too, and last season's smart bumper performer could show up at Naas, as well. 

Henry de Bromhead, the only trainer to break the Mullins-Elliott domination since 2014 with Bob Olinger, has just the sole entry in the shape of course winner Fruit De Mer. 

John McConnell is seeking a first success and last season's Weatherbys Champion Bumper runner-up Heads Up gives him a big chance of breaking his duck. 

The five-year-old bumped into Paul Nicholls' big white hope Heads Up at the November meeting at Cheltenham, but lost little in defeat that day after wearing his heart on his sleeve out in front. He only went down by three lengths to the horse who is now favourite for the Turners Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham. 

McConnell said of Heads Up: "Naas is definitely a possibility for Heads Up. His next run will definitely be in a Grade 1 and we have three options - the Formby or the Challow in England, or this race at Naas. We'll make a decision nearer the time, but Naas is a big option for him. "I'd say we just bumped into one of the best novices in the UK last time and we'll do things a bit differently with our lad the next day. He had a nice freshen up after that run at Cheltenham and he did his first proper piece of work since then this week. I was delighted with him and he seems in great form. All his form is working out, it's rock-solid."

There could be a rare British representative in the Ballymore Novice Hurdle this year as Charlie Longsdon has entered Swindon Village. 

He has some smart form in bumpers last season and blew away his rivals from the front in a Leicester novices' hurdle a few weeks ago, which has seen his rating soar to 130.