13:43 Naas

Friday 9 January 2026

All12:4313:1313:4314:1314:4315:1315:45

Ballymore Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 13:46 | Winning time: 5m 5.1s

Classical Creek⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott| D

3/1

Readily landed the odds in 22-runner maiden at Navan (20.2f, heavy) on hurdles bow 53 days ago. Smart prospect for a top stable which continues in tremendous form.

Form: 113/1

Frankie John¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D G Hogan| T: D Hogan| OR: 129| D

28/1

Fairly useful hurdler. 2 wins from 5 runs this season. Career best when winning 11-runner novice hurdle (11/2) at Leopardstown (20.5f, good to soft) 11 days ago. This demands a good deal more.

Form: 3/12231

Fruit De Mer⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead| C

11/1

Point winner who was first past the post (subsequently demoted) in bumper last March. Again looked a good prospect when making a successful start to his hurdle career at Naas in November.

Form: 12/1

I'll Sort That⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr D L Queally| T: D Queally| OR: 136| C

5/1

Dual bumper winner who made it 3-3 over hurdles when rallying to led again close home and beat Theflyingking by ¾ length in Navan Grade 3 in November. Back up in trip. Likely capable of even better.

Form: 112/111

Kovanis³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Gilligan| T: G Elliott| OR: 130| D

80/1

Bumper/maiden hurdle winner. 9 lengths third of 4 to Doctor Steinberg in Grade 2 at Navan (2½m, heavy) 34 days ago. Jack Kennedy seems to prefer Classical Creek.

Form: 116/313

Letos²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: A Mullins| OR: 131| CD

22/1

Useful C&D winner. 11/4, improved again when second of 6 in handicap hurdle at Carlisle (25f, soft) 26 days ago, travelling strongly. More on his plate now stepping up in class.

Form: 242/212-

Lord Rouge³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Ewing| T: G Elliott

33/1

10/3, created a good impression when making a successful start to his Rules career in 19-runner maiden hurdle at Cork (17f, soft) 33 days ago, staying on well. Will improve.

Form: 2/1

Saint Baco³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

9/2

Half-brother to yard's high-class jumper Saint Roi and this French recruit struck at the first time of asking for Willie Mullins in Navan maiden hurdle 34 days ago. Up in trip. Definitely more to come and Townend partners him rather than Sortudo.

Form: 3/1

Sortudo^h⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins

15/8

Smart dual bumper winner who made a smooth winning start to his hurdle career at Cork (2m, soft) in November. Can take the step up in class in his stride.

Form: 12271/1

Switch From Diesel²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Daniel King| T: R O'Sullivan| BF| C

20/1

Useful bumper/Flat winner. Fairly useful form over hurdles. 7/4, very good 2¾ lengths second of 6 to Echoing Silence in listed hurdle at Punchestown (19f, heavy) 29 days ago. Looks capable of even better.

Form: 2112/22

Forecasts

Sortudo (15/8), Classical Creek (3/1), Saint Baco (9/2), I'll Sort That (5/1), Fruit De Mer (11/1), Switch From Diesel (20/1), Letos (22/1), Frankie John (28/1), Lord Rouge (33/1), Kovanis (80/1)

Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott tend to dominate this Grade 1 novice, with the former's SORTUDO taken to build on his easy hurdle debut success at Cork, despite the fact Paul Townend looks elsewhere. Classical Creek also created a good impression when winning at Navan on his first start over hurdles and is second choice ahead of I'll Sort That.