THE Slaney Novice Hurdle at Naas has a relatively short but distinguished history. It was first run in 1998 as a Grade 3 race and attracted just four runners. In the intervening years it has grown in stature and competitiveness and has been won by some outstanding horses.

Elevated to Grade 1 status last year, it will be run at this level for the second time this weekend and is again sponsored by the local Lawlor’s Hotel. This iconic venue in Naas was once owned by Mrs Bridget Lawlor, the breeder of Mill House.

Adverse weather conditions have forced two abandonments of the race – in 2003 and 2010 – but the 16 races so far have seen Willie Mullins dominate the trainer’s standing with five victories, while Noel Meade and Mouse Morris are the only other handlers to saddle more than one winner.

Ruby Walsh rode three of the Mullins winners and Barry Geraghty has twice been successful. Only a single owner has been victorious more than once, Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud capturing the race twice in the last three years.

Lawlor’s Hotel is sponsoring the race for the second time and, incredibly, only one other commercial sponsor has had their name attached to the race. That was Goffs, the local sales company, and they sponsored in 2009. For many years the race was called the Woodlands Park 100 Slaney Hurdle, with local businesses and supporters becoming members of a club and the funds raised were used by the then manager Margaret McGuinness to finance the race.

Run over two and a half miles at the first January meeting in Naas each year, the race has been the feature of the meeting and only last year was the word Slaney dropped from its title.

The very first running in 1998 saw just four go to post, with little to separate the market fancies Promalee and Oonagh’s Star. As they came to the last the all-the-way leader Promalee was being pressed by the Donald Swan-trained, son Charlie-ridden Oonagh’s Star and the challenger appeared to have the upper hand. However he took a crashing fall, leaving Richard Dunwoody on Promalee to come home a distance and 20 lengths clear of the other finishers.

Drama

A dramatic debut for the race was nothing compared to the drama in year two. Though the winner was owned and trained by Michael and Fiona O’Connor and would have been a popular winner in normal circumstances, the likely winner Sallie’s Girl finished second, thanks to rider Paul Carberry believing that there was another circuit to go. He received a 10-day ban for his error and the first two were a distance clear of the rest. Sadly the winner had to be destroyed on her next start at Cheltenham.

Co Kildare trainers Tom Taaffe and Christy Roche won the following two years before Galway-based John Bleahen travelled across the country to collect with Canary Wharf in 2002. There was another Mullins winner when the race was run again two years later, but this time it was Tony Mullins with the smart bumper horse Mcgruders Cross who took the honours. Last to finish that day was one of the joint favourites, a horse named War Of Attrition.

The defection of Grade 1 winner Wild Passion in 2005 led to Willie Mullins win-ning the now Grade 2 race for the first time, Homer Wells staying on well to catch the runaway Bowe runner Sweet Kiln near the line.

Willie sent out the favourite Alexander Taipan the next year looking to follow up but he pulled a muscle and was well beaten by Noel Meade’s Toofarback, with Vic Venturi second.

James Bowe had to settle for the runner-up spot a second time in 2007 when Earth Magic couldn’t handle the class of Kazal who had Grade 1 form coming into the race.

The biggest field in the race’s history lined up in 2008 and only a head separated Venalmar and Trafford Lad on the line. The top-class Mikael D’Haguenet easily landed the odds of 1/3 in 2009, the 8/1 second favourite Western Charmer chasing him home at a respectful distance.

After a blank year due to adverse weather, Mullins was back in the winner’s enclosure in 2011 but not with his more fancied Bishopsfurze. Instead he teamed up with his nephew Emmet to win with Gagewell Flyer, while back in third place was the subsequent Aintree Grand National winner Pineau De Re.

Standout event

In 2012 Willie Mullins failed to saddle a runner, but the race was still a standout event and the first three home were all very smart. Noel Meade’s Monksland won from Lyreen Legend and Dedigout. Having had a placed runner in the previous three runnings, Gigginstown House Stud finally annexed the prize in 2013 with Rule The World who ran out a 16-length winner from Minsk, with Champagne Fever 24 lengths further back. No, they are not typos but the actual distances!

The 2014 race had the smallest field after Upzao defected, Briar Hill winning for Willie Mullins at 1/3, but there was just a shade over three lengths between the winner and third finisher.

An upgrade to the highest level and a prizemoney boost last January saw seven go to post and Willie Mullins saddled the first two home. To the dismay of favourite backers, the 4/5 favourite Tell Us More was headed close home by the 33/1 outsider of the three Mullins runners, McKinley. Gigginstown House owned both geldings and took home €64,000 as their share of the prize fund.