Queally rewrites history with grade one win at Naas

Friday saw the rescheduled Grade 1 Ballymore Novice take place at Naas. A race that has seen the likes of Grand National winner Rule The World, Envoi Allen, and Bob Olinger win in the past, it usually throws up a high-class winner. But little did the small Waterford outfit of Declan Queally know that he was going to rewrite history as he would become the first person to train and ride the same horse to a Grade 1 victory.

The Waterford native sent his stable star, I’ll Sort That, to take on the giants of Irish National Hunt racing in the Grade 1 Ballymore Novice Hurdle on Friday. The six-year-old gelding came into the contest with four wins from five starts over hurdles, which included a Grade 3 win, but Queally himself could not have dreamed up what was about to unfold at Naas.

Having gained the lead after jumping the second hurdle, everything was going according to plan for Queally as they set out on their final circuit. The duo began to up the tempo down the back straight, and led by four lengths, jumping the final flight (usual three out), which set up for a lung-bursting four furlongs finish on the flat.

With two furlongs to go, the Willie Mullins-trained favourite Sortudo loomed out of the pack to challenge Ill Sort That. With Patrick Mullins looming upsides, it looked as if it was all over Ill Sort That and Declan Queally, but the brave son of Sandmason found more and pulled away from Sortudo to win by over two lengths to the delight of Declan Queally, who let out a roar of shock and relief as he crossed the line with his brave partner.

A elated Declan Queally said: “He stays so well and is so genuine. It was a big ask coming up here, but thankfully, he’s pulled it out. I’ve played the race over in my head a hundred 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 as when he gets to the front, he dangles his ear and waits.

“For me, this is like a Junior C player being allowed to play in an All-Ireland. I’d love to have played in an All-Ireland Final, but I won’t get on the team. In this scenario, I’m able to do it.” Queally added: “Going to the start, I’ve 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!

“He 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 didn’t mind not having a hurdle in the straight as I thought he was better than most of these in bumpers, and if he was there turning in, he would gallop to the line.

“I saw Paddy Mullins coming and thought ‘ah no not you’ as he’s beaten me so many times in bumpers! That’s unbelievable, I can’t believe it!”