Lawlor's Of Naas Tips & Odds

The history of the Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle

This feature contest at Naas has over the years grown into one of the most important and informative novice hurdle trials on either side of the Irish Sea. The race became a Grade Three in 1993, after plenty of brilliant horses had won or run in it.

In 2005 it was elevated again to become a Grade Two event, further boosting the appeal for trainers, before in 2015 it was promoted again to be a Grade One.

There have been plenty of good winners of the race down the years, and it is a massive stepping stone to Cheltenham with seven of the last twelve heading to the Ballymore and five heading to the Supreme.

Who is the most iconic winner of the Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle?

Particularly in the last ten years, there have been some massive names claim the Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle. The horse has in the end failed to quite hit the heights many had hoped, but when Envoi Allen cruised to glory here in 2020 at short odds before bolting up in the Ballymore, the hype surrounding him implied he was the second coming.

It was much the same a year later when Bob Olinger cruised to glory and then headed to Cheltenham to once again scoop the Ballymore, marking the race out as the premium Ballymore trial. He has bounced back of late, but Bob Olinger is another who won this race and would go on to disappoint.

2016 Grand National winner Rule The World actually took out this race in his novice hurdling career, although that is often forgotten when looking back on the horse's career after he won the most famous race in jumps racing when still a maiden over fences.