Ballymore Novice Hurdle: runner-by-runner guide and tip

Envoi Allen and Bob Olinger have used the 2m 4f Ballymore Novice Hurdle as a springboard to Cheltenham Festival success in recent years and Friday's rescheduled renewal is again chock-full of potential. The powerhouses of Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have between them been responsible for ten of the past 11 winners of the Grade One contest, and the pair have more aces up their sleeve, being responsible for half of the declared runners.

A point-to-point and bumper winner, Classical Creek is on of three runners in the race for Gordon Elliott and made all to win comfortably over this trip at Navan in mid-November on his hurdling debut. That race has previously been won by his trainer with the likes of Wingmen, Stellar Story and Andy Dufresne, plus Ginto, who then went on to win this Grade One in 2022.

Conditions at Naas are likely to be a fraction quicker than he encountered last time, but that should be no hindrance, and Gordon Elliott is in flying form, with 23 winners over the past two weeks at the time of writing.

A definite pace angle, his form lacks significant depth and I imagine in time he will want even further than this, but he is open to any amount of progress and cannot be ruled out for a yard that has a good record in this race (five winners from the past nine renewals).

Frankie John was not declared for the Grade One feature when it was originally meant to be run on Sunday, but he has now been entered by his trainer/jockey after entries were reopened.

Last seen winning nicely over an extended two and a half miles at Leopardstown over the Christmas period, he is the joint-most experienced hurdler in the potential line up (along with Letos) with four runs over obstacles. Last week's half-length maiden hurdle victory over Champion Bumper third Jalon d'Oudairies was his first win following three placed efforts.

Bought by Hogan for €115,000 as a store, he was then sold for £275,000 to Tom Malone at Cheltenham in 2024 after winning his maiden point-to-point, but he then ended up returning to Ireland and has ran consistently well for connections. However, more will be needed in this company.

Fruit De Mer has had three runs, all of which have been in different disciplines over different trips. A six-length point-to-point winner over three miles, he was then second in a bumper at Limerick over two miles in March, having been first past the post but demoted due to interference. He then improved on that to win his maiden hurdle over 2m3f at this track by just under three lengths in November.

He is progressive and open to considerable improvement, but he has been keen before and was buzzy in the paddock before his rules debut. He is in the right hands to iron out any frailties and whilst he was good over over hurdles on debut, his pedigree points to his future lying over fences.

Declan Quelly's six-year-old was a useful bumper performer, winning twice last winter, and he has taken to hurdles exceptionally well, winning all three of his starts over obstacles so far. A strong traveller, he is also another pace angle in this race, having made the running or been prominent in all of those races.

He made a mistake at the last in Grade Three company (two miles) at Navan last time out, but rallied and got his head back in front to score by three quarters of a length from Theflyingking. The third-placed finisher, Whimsy, finished a further four lengths back and has been well beaten in two subsequent starts, albeit at Grade Two level most recently.

Prior to his latest run, I'll Sort That had won over this trip at Galway, but that was a weak maiden hurdle and may have been beaten had his nearest challenger not fallen at the last. He is a likeable sort, but it remains to be seen how well he will see out this trip against better opposition.

The grey Kovanis was a slightly disappointing third of four at Navan in Grade Two company last time on testing ground, but he should have no problems with the trip, being a point-to point winner over three miles and seeing out the stiff finish well at Clonmel to win the time previously over 2m3f.

A £330,000 purchase after his win between the flags, slightly better ground may seem him to better effect and he is yet another horse in this race to usually be ridden prominently.

His overall hurdles form will need improving upon to land this prize, however, and he looks to be the stable's third string.

Letos is by far the most experienced horse in the race when it comes to runs over obstacles, having run four time over hurdles and twice over fences in France, plus he has had one run over fences and three more over hurdles since arriving in Ireland.

He has only recorded one victory from those 11 starts, however, with that win coming on his tenth start in Listed company at Naas. He finished second off a 9lb higher mark behind Nab Wood in a Pertemps qualifier at Carlisle last time over 3m1f.

He does not look badly treated off his current mark of 131, so it a surprise to see him dip his toe into Grade One company and, although this step back to an intermediate trip ought to suit, this is a big step up in class and more is again needed to land the spoils.

If there is one horse who falls into the 'could be anything' category in this race, it is probably Lord Rouge. 

Second in his 2m4f point-to-point for Pat Doyle behind Heldam (who finished sixth as 15/8 favourite for Willie Mullins in his bumper over Christmas), he went one place better in his maiden hurdle at Cork last month over 2m1f.

Interestingly, his half-brother Gin On Lime only had two runs over hurdles before being sent chasing, where she won in Grade Three company.

There is little doubt that Lord Rouge should see out this trip and he should also take a step forward from his rules debut. He is a very interesting prospect.

With Saint Baco getting the nod from Paul Townend, his odds for this race have shortened significantly over the past week, and there is not much to dislike.

A half-brother to Closutton's runaway County Hurdle winner Saint Roi and by a top sire in Cokoriko, he showed good form in France, where he was only narrowly behind subsequent Grade One runner-up Musique Maestro at Auteuil in the autumn of 2024 on his second start.

He then made the switch from Daniela Mele to Willie Mullins and won emphatically on his first start for his new connections at Navan last month. The runner-up in that race, Lazare Du Star, has since won easily for Gordon Elliott at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Given that was his first start for almost 15 months, better can be expected of him here and he is already a best-priced 10-1 for the Turners Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

He is one of just two five-year-olds in the race, along with Lord Rouge - Mckinley was the last horse aged five to win, for the same trainer and jockey 11 years ago.

Sortudo was favourite for this race prior to jockey bookings and, like with his fancied stablemate, there is not much to dislike.

He is more experienced than Saint Baco, with six starts under rules since finishing second in a point-to-point, but he has less experience of obstacles, with five of those races coming in bumpers last season.

That campaign yielded two victories, including a 12-length win over the re-opposing I'll Sort That on his final start of the season. He made the perfect transition to hurdles when winning by eight and a half lengths from Jalon d'Oudairies at Cork in November in a first-time hood (which is kept on here).

That form is not spectacular but he is also open to considerable improvement. He steps up half a mile in trip here, which should be well within his compass.

A three-time bumper winner from 12 starts in that discipline, Switch From Diesel also won her only start on the Flat, a 1m4f maiden at the Curragh in November.

She was then switched to hurdles and, in her two runs, has finished second both times. The best of those efforts came last time, where she was upped to 2m3f at Punchestown and came from the rear to finish just over two lengths behind Henry de Bromhead's progressive mare Echoing Silence.

She is a strong-travelling type who should appreciate a return to better ground and she has won her only start at this track, but this step up in class demands a lot more and others are open to significantly more improvement. 

As ever, plenty of these are unexposed, and there could also be a huge amount of pace on. He Is not a fancy price, but I think SAINT BACO will take all the beating. The form of his final French run and his Irish debut have both worked out and he could be perfectly positioned in this race. He looks an exciting recruit. His stablemate Sortudo rates a solid danger, as does Gordon Elliott's Classical Creek, both of whom won well last time.

1 SAINT BACO. 2 SORTUDO. 3 CLASSICAL CREEK.