Racing judge Cathryn Fry is back with her latest round of Irish Horses to Follow after a busy festive period. Read her latest round of eyecatchers in her exclusive kwiff column.

Royal Ascot scorer Sober put himself firmly on the Cheltenham Festival radar with an authoritative success in the Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday. The Grade Two contest has long been a reliable launching pad for Willie Mullins trained stars, with its roll of honour featuring the likes of Mikael d’Haguenet (2009), Vautour (2014), Douvan (2015) and Impaire Et Passe (2023) among the Closutton handler’s 11 previous winners.

All four went on to strike at Prestbury Park, just two months later, Vautour and Douvan capturing the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, while Mikael d’Haguenet and Impaire Et Passe successfully stepped up in trip for what is now the Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Following his emphatic display, Sober appears to have both Cheltenham options open. His jumping needs a bit of work but he’s in the right place to learn that. I wouldn’t be put off if the decision came to run him in the Supreme v’s the Turners. Yes, he was at the maximum trip on the level, but, he has the flat speed. Plus, to win over two miles at Cheltenham, you need to ultimately stay 2m5f due to the unique lay-out of the course.

The Turners to Champion Hurdle record states that case. The horse in second, Road Exile can be commended as he absolutely hated the experience but held his reserve to hang on to second place, from the fast finishing Free Spirit. Road Exile already looks like a chaser and found the undulations and turns of Punchestown difficult to navigate. I’m puzzled by the negative reaction to the victory of Sober, for me, the turn of foot he showed was exceptional.

One of the many reasons that I love National Hunt racing so dearly is there is room for the smaller players, we saw a great example of that at Naas on Friday. I’ll Sort That showed considerable resolve to land the Ballymore Novice Hurdle at Naas, delivering trainer/ rider Declan Queally a first success at Grade One level. The six-year-old was tackling elite company for the first time after building momentum with three successive victories over obstacles, most recently completing that sequence with a Grade Three triumph in the For Auction Novice Hurdle at Navan in November.

Returned to a trip of two and a half miles, Queally’s mount was ridden assertively from the outset, dictating matters at the head of affairs as the pace gradually increased. Turning for home, he still held a narrow advantage, and when Willie Mullins’ hot favourite Sortudo, partnered by Patrick Mullins, moved menacingly into contention, I’ll Sort That dug in tenaciously. Unwilling to yield in the closing stages, he stretched clear in the final furlong to secure a decisive two and a half length victory

I’ll Sort That will be entered in both the Turners and The Albert Bartlett. There’s pedigree on his dam side at two miles and six furlongs. Scenes afterwards were heartwarming and it was clear to see the delight of Declan Queally. He’s no back number heading into the Olympics of National Hunt Racing.

By Cathryn Fry

Please note that the information provided in this Irish Horses to Follow: Jan 13th 2026 article is for entertainment purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided. Any action you take upon the information on this article is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any losses and damages in connection with the use of our article. We do not encourage gambling and remind you to gamble responsibly.
 
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