Ballymore Novice Hurdle: top contenders confirmed for Naas Grade One

Ireland’s first Grade 1 of 2026 is a crackerjack of a contest, with all the big guns - including leading Cheltenham Festival fancies Sortudo and Saint Baco - standing their ground for the Ballymore Novice Hurdle at Naas on Sunday, live on Racing TV.

Only Paul Nicholls’ No Drama This End is shorter than Sortudo in the market for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, and back in 2021 Bob Olinger completed the Naas-Cheltenham double.

Sortudo burst onto the hurdling scene with an explosive display in a maiden hurdle at Cork last month, where he was much too good for the smart Jakob D’Ourairies.

However, jockey bookings would suggest Saint Baco is the number one from the Closutton camp, as he has been chosen by stable jockey Paul Townend. Willie Mullins will be seeking a record-extending tenth win in the race, following previous victories with 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).

Saint Baco was a stylish winner on his Irish debut for Mullins in a maiden hurdle at Navan, and the form has been spectacularly franked, with runner-up Lazare de Star scoring an easy victory at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Gordon Elliott is triple-handed with Classical Creek, Kovanis and Lord Rouge. Unsurprisingly, Jack Kennedy has opted to ride Classical Creek, who looked a future star when scoring on his reappearance at Navan.

Elliott, who sent out a staggering 34 winners in Ireland in December and began 2026 with four winners on New Year’s Day, has won the Ballymore Novice Hurdle five times in the last decade, most recently with The Yellow Clay last year.

Elliott said of his trio: “Classical Creek is a lovely young horse. You probably won’t see the very best of him until he jumps a fence next season, but you’d have to be delighted with the way he won at Navan. This will tell us where we stand with him for the rest of the season. He’s a nice horse and one we’ve always liked.

“Lord Rouge is a nice sort too. This will tell us a lot more about him, while Kovanis has a nice bit of experience and should run well, although it looks a very hot race.”

Declan Queally goes in search of the biggest success of his career with the prolific I’ll Sort That, who has won his last three outings, while course maiden hurdle winner Fruit De Mer represents Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe.

Letos is another Naas winner, having landed a competitive handicap hurdle at the track last month, while Ross O’Sullivan saddles Switch From Diesel, who was a seriously smart bumper performer last season.

Whatever happens, there is sure to be a shake-up in the novice hurdle markets for the Cheltenham Festival, given the quality of the field assembled for the 2026 Ballymore Novice Hurdle.

Adding even more excitement, one lucky racegoer will win €10,000 in Naas Racecourse’s biggest-ever race-day sweepstake. Arrive early for a special edition of Paddy Power ‘From The Horse’s Mouth Live’ with Tom Nugent, Ruby Walsh and Fran Berry, and don’t miss the Winter Best Dressed Competition, where the winner takes home a €2,000 Frasers gift card and a two-night luxury stay at Kilkea Castle. 

First race goes to post at 12:25pm. Tickets are available at naasracecourse.com.