Friday 9th January 2026
1.43 Naas: Ballymore Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
It’s over to Naas for the first selection of the afternoon, and this Grade 1 action in the rearranged Ballymore Novice Hurdle over two miles and four furlongs. Willie Mullins’ SAINT BACO could be an exciting prospect, and he’s the choice of Paul Townend here over stablemate Sortudo, who’s the current second favourite. He made a big impression on his stable debut at Navan in December, winning a twenty-five-runner maiden by three and three-quarters of a length, with Gordon Elliott’s Lazare de Star in second, who has since come out and won well over the Christmas period. It could well be another one out of the top drawer for Closutton, and a big run should be forthcoming. Gordon Elliott has been in scintillating form this season, so his first-string Classical Creek is feared.
SAINT BACO – 2/1 (Win)
3.50 Meydan: Al Wasl Stakes Sponsored By DP World (Conditions)
The best bet of the day comes from Meydan and the 3.50, which is a conditions event over six furlongs. Charlie Appleby’s WORDS OF TRUTH should prove very tough to beat here on these terms, under William Buick. He’s clear on ratings from the field, which is a result of his very solid two-year-old form from his flat campaign in the UK last term. He was a three-time winner, with the highlight being success in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury back in September, where he got the better of the promising Into The Sky by a length. He also lost nothing in defeat when finishing third at Ascot on Champions Day, a length and a half behind Group 3 winner Mission Central. It would be disappointing if he weren’t to post a very serious bid in this particular affair.
WORDS OF TRUTH – 5/4 (Win) (NAP)
5.30 Wolverhampton: SBK: Betting Without The Bull Handicap (Class 3)
Our third and final selection comes in the form of CARBINE HARVESTER in the 5.30 at Wolverhampton, which is a Class 3 handicap that’s contested over six furlongs. The William Haggas-trained four-year-old has gone close in his last two outings, with the most recent being at Kempton last month where he finished a neck second of ten over today’s distance. He’s been nudged up just a couple of pounds for that run by the handicapper, and that isn’t likely to stop him from going well again if he continues in the same form. He seems to appreciate the all-weather more than the turf, and he’s also a course and distance winner. He looks like a solid contender under Cieren Fallon.
CARBINE HARVESTER – 5/1 (Each-Way) (4 places)
