Naas’ Slaney Hurdle gets Grade One status

Tomorrow’s home action is National Hunt at Bellewstown and Limerick and in the long-term there was good jumping news for Naas yesterday with confirmation that the track will host its first Grade One race next January due to the Slaney Hurdle’s promotion to top-flight status.

There was less welcome news for Navan in the Pattern adjustment with the Navan Hurdle dropped to Grade Two due to the small size of the fields in the race. Last year Briar Hill beat just one opponent at Navan before going on to win the Slaney.

"We pride ourselves on providing a quality venue for young horses to prepare for festival meetings," the Naas manager Tommy Ryan said yesterday. "To see the race achieve Grade One status is a big boost."

Flat card

Today's Bellewstown flat card sees a triple-digit performer in the 104-rated El Salvador in the concluding amateur race.

Sarah O'Brien takes the mount on the Queen Alexandra runner-up who was last to his stable companion Ernest Hemingway on very firm ground in the Curragh Cup last Sunday.

Shanpallas could be the solution to tomorrow's conditions chase at Limerick for trainer Charles Byrnes.