I’ll Sort That battles to Grade One glory for Queally

I’ll Sort That dug deep to provide his trainer and rider Declan Queally with a first Grade One victory in the Ballymore Novice Hurdle at Naas.

The six-year-old stepped up to the highest level having won his last three starts over obstacles, completing the hat-trick with a Grade Three success in the For Auction Novice Hurdle at Navan in November.

Stepping back up in trip to two and a half miles, I’ll Sort That was sent straight to the lead by amateur jockey Queally, who steadily raised the tempo and he remained in front rounding the home turn.

Hot favourite Sortudo, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by his son Patrick, loomed up looking a big danger early in the straight, but I’ll Sort That refused to bend in front and toughed it out in the final furlong to score by two and a half lengths.

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.

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