AFTER a 2025 that was full of growth for his family’s Co Waterford training operation, there would be no better way for Declan Queally to kick off the new year than securing a first Grade 1 success in tomorrow’s Grade 1 Ballymore Novice Hurdle (1.25) at Naas with I’ll Sort That.

The season couldn’t have begun any better for owner David Needham’s tough-as-teak novice, who followed up a wide-margin Listowel Harvest Festival success with back-to-back novice hurdle victories at Galway and Navan (the latter coming in the Grade 3 For Auction).

Queally has only run two other horses in Grade 1 novice hurdles during his career and both have reached the frame at double-figure prices, most recently runner-up Carrigmoornaspruce in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown last weekend. He does not tend to tackle the top flight without good reason.

“We’re really looking forward to it. It’s obviously a very competitive race but we feel he’s earned his shot at it,” said Declan Queally Jr, who will again be in the saddle for this €100,000 prize.

“We wouldn’t run him in this grade if he didn’t feel he was up to it. He’s always worked like a very good horse. Up the steep hill gallop at Curraghmore, he’s our best horse to work up there.”

Most people will be hoping Naas avoids the worst of the frost this weekend, but - once racing is able to go ahead as planned - Queally Jr is in no way put out at the thought of a cold snap.

“We’ll be hoping that the frost comes hard and makes the ground horrible because we think he’ll handle that well, whereas maybe it might be an unknown for others,” he told The Irish Field.

“It was a proper trial for him to get back up late on at Navan last time. That was over two miles and the way he finished out, you’d be hoping that the extra distance should be in his favour.

“We’re hoping he can run a nice race and maybe get into the places, and if he won it’d just be magic. We feel he deserves his chance at this company anyway.”

Quality novice

On Carrigmoornaspruce, Queally Jr added: “The Old Fools Partnership were over the moon with her run at Leopardstown. We had a mini meeting afterwards and I think we’re leaning towards running in the Grade 3 Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse [on January 24th]. After that, we’re in two minds about Cheltenham. I’d say it’s probably only 50-50 that she’d go there.

“We know that she’s quite a light-framed filly who can live on her nerves a bit, so we wouldn’t like to leave our season behind us at Cheltenham if it didn’t go to plan. There’s a possibility we could look at Punchestown and Fairyhouse and keep her home instead. We’ll see what happens.”

There was a shake-up to the Naas betting after jockey bookings were confirmed on Friday morning, as Paul Townend opted not to ride favourite Sortudo and instead will partner impressive Navan maiden hurdle winner Saint Baco.

Gordon Elliott has declared three runners in his bid to win the track’s only Grade 1 of the year for the sixth time in a decade, with Jack Kennedy unsurprisingly aboard Navan Racing Festival maiden hurdle scorer Classical Creek.

“Classical Creek is a lovely young horse and is going to make a smashing novice chaser next season,” said Elliott, who took the race 12 months ago with The Yellow Clay.

“He’s a horse I’ve always thought a lot of and I was delighted with the way he won at Navan back in November. Anything he does this season is going to be a bonus.”

On his other two runners, he added: “Lord Rouge [to be ridden by Sam Ewing] ran well in a point-to-point and won his maiden hurdle nicely at Cork.

“This is obviously a big step up, but he’s a very nice horse. Kovanis [to be ridden by Danny Gilligan] is a nice young horse too and could run well.”