Ballymore Novice Hurdle

(Grade 1)

WE might only be a few days into 2026 but the Ballymore Novice Hurdle provided a definite candidate for the most popular Grade 1 winner we’ll see all year, as I’ll Sort That propelled the Declan Queally team to the highest level of the sport with a performance of proper heart and grit.

The Co Waterford operation has always held owner David Needham’s strong stayer in top regard - even if he was bought for only cost €3,500 as a store - and this was the ultimate reward to notch their first Grade 1. In the process, they managed to lower the colours of Willie and Patrick Mullins’ 15/8 favourite Sortudo in a prolonged stretch duel. It all made for an excellent reception back in the Naas winner’s enclosure.

With the final hurdle omitted in this rescheduled €100,000 prize, Declan Queally Jr made plenty of use of his For Auction Novice Hurdle winner on the front end, with no obstacle remaining in the straight. Patrick Mullins loomed large on the only horse who managed to beat I’ll Sort That in 2025 (the pair finished 1-2 in a Fairyhouse bumper last April), but the well-backed 5/1 shot (from a ring price of 15/2) answered his rider’s every call to come out on top by two and a half lengths.

The pair pulled 13 lengths clear of a staying-on Fruit De Mer (Henry de Bromhead/Darragh O’Keeffe), while Switch From Diesel (Ross O’Sullivan/Daniel King) ran with plenty of credit in fourth. Saint Baco (sixth at an easy-to-back 9/2) and Classical Creek (seventh at 3/1) were the disappointments of the race.

An elated Queally Jr said: “I can’t believe it. For a small yard like ours in the south of Ireland, to come up here and win a Grade 1 is dream stuff. He stays so well and is so genuine. It was a big ask coming up here, but thankfully he’s pulled it out.

“I’d say I’ve played the race over in my head 100 times in the last two weeks. I was toying with the idea of dropping him in last this morning, but I said I’d stick with the plan because when he gets to the front, he dangles his ear and waits.

Pinch yourself

“For me, this is like a Junior C player being allowed to play in an All-Ireland. Going to the start, I’ve got Paul Townend on one side of me and Jack Kennedy on the other. I’m thinking ‘I’m not supposed to be here’, but I try to blend in. This horse works very well. We have got a couple of graded horses at home and he’s able to easily put them in their place, carrying my brother Jack, who is 13 or 14 stone.”

I’ll Sort That is now second favourite at 12/1 with some firms for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham (from as big as 50/1), while Sortudo is 14/1 for the same event and 12/1 for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

On the nature of the extremely long run-in, Queally added: “I didn’t mind not having a hurdle in the straight because I thought he was better than most of these in bumpers and if he was there turning in, he would gallop to the line.

“When Sortudo came to me, I thought ‘oh no, not Paddy Mullins again’ - he’s after beating me in so many bumpers over the last 17 or 18 years. I could feel my horse finding at the half furlong pole and that we had him. It was relief.”

Unusually for a Grade 1 hurdle race, the finish was fought out by two amateur riders, who never gave an inch aboard a pair of quality novices. Patrick Mullins was enthused by the effort of Sortudo, while still being keen to pay tribute to the winning jockey.

“Sortudo ran a super race,” Mullins said. “The difference is probably that the winner is a bit hardier and had three runs this season before coming here. We had one. We came to beat him and the winner just toughed it out.

“I’d like to think we’d turn it around with him the next day, but I have huge congratulations for Declan Queally. To have a hand in the training and riding of a Grade 1 winner… People say it can’t be done but he’s gone and done it. It’s incredible.”

Bumper boost

There was quick compensation for connections of the second 30 minutes later when the well-bred Quiryn (SP 9/4) claimed the Fifty Stars At Sunnyhill Stud Bumper for four-year-olds in the colours of Margaret Masterson.

The nine-length winner is a half-brother to Group 1 Prix du Cadran winner Mille Et Mille, among other smart siblings, and was declared to run twice at Saint-Cloud last summer but never managed to run.

Assistant trainer David Casey said: “He was impressive, but had been working well so we were hoping he’d put up a performance. We’ve always liked him and he’s a fine, big horse who I think will improve away. I don’t know what was in today’s race but all he can do is win as he did.”