Elliott launches triple challenge on Naas Grade One

Gordon Elliott looks to be well-represented in the Ballymore Novice Hurdle at Naas on Sunday.

The trainer has three contenders in the two-mile four-furlong Grade One, with a field of nine set to go to post.

Classical Creek is the Elliott-trained horse most prominent in the market, an eight-length winner of a Navan maiden when last seen and a horse with both bumper and point-to-point form on his record.

The trainer said: “They are all nice horses. Classical Creek is a lovely young horse and is going to make a smashing novice chaser next season.

“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.”

Lord Rouge is another runner from Elliott’s Cullentra base, a point-to-point runner-up who was last seen winning a Cork maiden hurdle in early December.

The trainer said: “Lord Rouge ran well in a point-to-point and won his maiden hurdle nicely at Cork. This would obviously be a big step up, but he’s a very nice horse.”

Of the final horse in the trio, Kovanis, Elliott added: “Kovanis is a nice young horse too and could run well.”

Willie Mullins has the current favourite in Saint Baco, a Navan maiden hurdle winner, with stablemate Sortudo also popular in the market.

Declan Queally is set to saddle I’ll Sort That, who is bidding for a hat-trick having won on seasonal debut and then landed a Grade Three event at Navan last time out.

Henry de Bromhead’s Fruit De Mer, the Ross O’Sullivan-trained Switch From Diesel and Letos for Anthony Mullins complete the field.