The Yellow Clay and Sam Ewing© Photo Healy Racing
Gordon Elliott looks to hold a strong hand in the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle after a total of 24 entries were released for the 2m4f Grade 1 at Naas on January 5.
The Grade 2 Tote Navan Novice Hurdle winner The Yellow Clay heads the Cullentra team which also includes Grade 3 winner Bleu De Vassy plus maiden hurdle winners Wingmen and Romeo Coolio, who filled the runner-up spot in the Grade 2 Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle.
“We definitely plan to have at least one runner in the Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle, if not two runners,” confirmed Elliott, who has won the race in the past with Envoi Allen and Ginto.
“The Yellow Clay was good over the same trip at Navan the other day and this might be a good place to go with him and Wingmen would probably be well suited to two and a half miles around Naas as well, so we have options.
“It’s always a good day at Naas and a race we’ve had a bit of luck in before, so we’ll see what happens over Christmas and have another crack at it with at least one of our runners. We're lucky to have four nice horses to enter in it.”
Willie Mullins numerically dominates with a total of 14 entries including Cheltenham Festival Bumper winner Jasmin De Vaux, while Salvator Mundi and Supersundae are other interesting contenders for the champion trainer.
Henry de Bromhead is represented by Butch Cassidy and Taponthego, while the Andy Slattery-trained Fleur In The Park, runner-up to The Yellow Clay at Navan last week, is also among the entries.
The Grade 2 Racing Post Novice Chase is a notable supporting race on the card, while off the track there are great prizes to be won in the Best Dressed Competition.
The overall winner will receive a €2,000 Frasers gift card, a two-night stay in a luxurious suite at Lawlor’s of Naas Town Centre Hotel, dinner at Vi’s Restaurant and a Tipsy Afternoon Tea.
