First Grade 1 race for Naas Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) today announced a number of enhancements to the Irish National Hunt Pattern race programme for the 2014/15 National Hunt season, including the promotion of the Slaney Novice Hurdle at Naas in early January from Grade 2 to Grade 1 status, providing a first opportunity at the highest level for the racecourse. Won in the past by champions such as Carvills Hill and Ventana Canyon, recent renewals of the Slaney Novice Hurdle have featured top-class performers such as Briar Hill, Champagne Fever, Very Wood, Rule The World, Lyreen Legend, Mikael D’Haguenet, Monksland, Trafford Lad and Venalmar, as well as the 2014 Crabbie’s Grand National winner Pineau De Re. Tom Ryan, Manager of Naas Racecourse said: “The realisation of a Grade 1 race for Naas has been a long-standing goal here for many years. We pride ourselves on providing a high-quality venue for young horses to prepare for festival meetings. Slaney Hurdle graduates have consistently tasted success at all the major festivals and to see it achieve Grade 1 status is a big boost to our National Hunt programme. I’d like to thank the owners and trainers around the country for their continued support. We hope to make an announcement regarding a new sponsor for the race in the near future.” The Navan Novice Hurdle, staged over the same distance three weeks earlier in mid-December, has been downgraded from Grade 1 to Grade 2 status due to its poor recent field sizes and to provide a better progression within the two and a half mile novice hurdler category. One new race was awarded black-type status, the 4yo conditions hurdle at Limerick’s successful Christmas Festival, while at the same racecourse, the second season novice chase in October had its black-type status removed due to the poor historical quantity and quality of the fields, which meant the race failed to achieve its necessary ratings.
