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 at the post.
Classical Creek is the most prominent Elliott-trained horse on the market, an eight-length winner from a Navan maiden when last seen and a horse with both bumper and point-to-point form under his belt.
The trainer said: “They are all nice horses. Classical Creek is a wonderful young horse and will be a fantastic novice hunter next season.”
“He’s a horse I’ve always thought about a lot and I was really happy with the way he won at Navan in November. Everything he does this season will be a bonus.”
Lord Rouge is another runner from Elliott’s Cullentra base, a point-to-point runner-up who last won a Cork girls’ hurdle in early December.
The trainer said: “Lord Rouge ran well from point to point and won his first fence nicely in Cork. This would obviously be a big step forward, but he is a very nice horse.”
Of the final horse in the trio, Kovanis, Elliott added: “Kovanis is also a nice young horse and can run well.”
Willie Mullins has the current favorite in Saint Baco, a first hurdle winner from Navan, while stablemate Sortudo is also popular in the market.
Declan Queally will saddle I’ll Sort That, who is bidding for a hat-trick after winning on his season debut and then setting up 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.
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