'He’s a hell of a horse': Baron Noir and Sober tank through the freeze to ignite Supreme dreams

It wasn't quite the weekend racing fans had hoped for, with major meetings in Britain and Ireland lost amid the wintry weather, but there were still some key races in both jurisdictions.

They included the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday as Willie Mullins scored with a Royal Ascot winner over hurdles, and an exciting novice over timber at Kempton for Alan King that could have Cheltenham ambitions come March.

King's Baron spell ends in style

Alan King went into Saturday at Kempton without a winner in 2026 but the Barbury Castle handler signed off at the Sunbury-on-Thames venue with three on the board and none seemingly did it with more promise than Baron Noir.

Owned by the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate, Baron Noir had ended last season with a Punchestown Festival bumper success, capitalising on the wayward finish of El Cairos. That rival is with Gordon Elliott now and is the ante-post favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Baron Noir was denied by Cristal D'estruval on hurdles bow at Warwick in November, with connections adamant he wasn't fully wound up, but he has won at Uttoxeter and now Kempton since.

He tanked his way to the lead going to three out in the novices' hurdle (2m, good) that opened the card at Kempton and came home strongly under Tom Bellamy.

It was impressive and connections feel there is much more to come, with the Cotswolds curtain raiser now the next target on March 10.

"I think he showed there he travels plenty strong enough and in fact they didn't take him along far enough or fast enough and he got a bit idle in front, but I think he's a hell of a good horse and there will be more to come," said Fehily.

"Cheltenham is Cheltenham and he will be going there next, I think. He's had three runs and I don't think he needs another. I'll see what Alan says, but I would say he will probably go straight to the Supreme Novices' Hurdle."

Sober the toast of Punchestown

Already a Royal Ascot winner on the Flat, Sober now has genuine Cheltenham Festival aspirations after landing the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.

A multiple winner on the level in his native France, he won over timber at Killarney last May before scoring in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot in June under Ryan Moore.

Off since, his jumping was much-improved here — bar a shady one at the first — and he was much too strong for odds-on favourite Road Exile from the Gordon Elliott team after tanking through to lead as the three runners ran between the final two flights.

His flat-speed told and he put five-and-a-half-lengths between himself and Road Exile at the line.

He races in the colours of the Australian-based OTI Racing and while Cheltenham is his spring target, another Royal Ascot run could pre-empt a go at the Melbourne Cup later in 2026.

"He had a break after Ascot and we thought he'd improve for this," said assistant trainer David Casey. "We thought he might need a bit further, but maybe his Flat class and experience told. He put it to bed well.

"He's entered in the two-mile race at the Dublin Racing Festival, but that might be too close."

Queally in dreamland with I'll Sort That

Trainer/jockey Declan Queally had a moment to remember as his unbeaten hurdler I'll Sort That landed the Grade 1 Ballymore Novice Hurdle at Naas on Friday.

The Waterford-based operator gained his first success at Grade 1 level and did so in a contest where Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead all had strong representation.

I'll Sort That set off to make the running but it looked as though favourite Sortudo was going to have his measure as they ran the half-mile finish with two hurdles omitted due to low sun.

I'll Sort That showed remarkable fortitude to fend off the runner-up and was cut from 33/1 to a best-priced 16/1 to win the Turners Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.