National Hunt fans have much to look forward to this coming weekend, with Graded class action scheduled from both sides of the Irish Sea. Provided Storm Goretti doesn’t cause too much disruption, the Grade 2 double of the Hampton Novices’ Chase and the Silviniaco Conti Chase take centre stage on Saturday afternoon. Sunday then sees the focus switch to Punchestown for the 2026 edition of the often-informative Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle.
Future Stars on Show
Born as the Byrne Group Novice Hurdle in 2003, the race took on its current title in 2009 in honour of the incredible 13-time Grade 1 winner Moscow Flyer. The new contest certainly made a flying start in terms of the quality of the winner, with the inaugural champ, Kicking King, going on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2005.
Since then, a host of future Grade 1 winners have come home in front, including the brilliant Rich Ricci trio of Vautour, Douvan, and Min, and 2023 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle winner Impaire Et Passe. The common thread connecting that quartet is that they were all trained by Willie Mullins. Looking ahead to the latest renewal, the market suggests that the Closutton maestro has the ace in the pack once again.
Queen Alexandra Stakes Winner the One to Beat?
With 11 wins in total, including each of the past four editions, Mullins is unsurprisingly out on his own as the most successful trainer in the history of this race. Responsible for two of the four remaining entries, there’s a fair chance he will add to that tally in 2026.
The pick of the Mullins duo is a horse last sighted strutting his stuff in the summertime sun at Royal Ascot. By Camelot and out of a Lope De Vega mare, it is no surprise that Sober began his career on the flat. Having struck twice in Grade 2 company for Andre Fabre, he made the switch from Chantilly to County Carlow in April 2025.
Sent over hurdles on his first start for Mullins, he had room for improvement in the jumping department, but was still too good for his four rivals at Killarney. Sober headed to Berkshire for his next assignment in the Queen Alexandra Stakes. While back on familiar territory, given the lack of obstacles, the marathon 2m5f trip represented a step into the unknown. Going in the hands of Ryan Moore, Sober took the additional distance in his stride as he sauntered to a five-length success.
Initially touted as a Melbourne Cup contender on the back of that effort, a small fracture saw him miss that assignment. Fit and well, having had a screw inserted into the affected leg, big flat targets may lie in wait, but he reverts to hurdles for his seasonal return. The ex-Daniela Mele horse Free Spirit complete the Mullins entries.
Elliott Bids for Win Number Three
Joint second on the list of trainers, a mere nine wins behind Mullins, is the man who currently tops the Irish Champion Trainer table. There is a long way to go between now and the end of the season, but the €22,125 in first-place prize money would help Gordon Elliott’s cause.
Elliott had three entries, headed by Theflyingking, though he has since been withdrawn. Sporting the black and white silks of KTDA Racing & BJM Limited, this son of Jukebox Jury was in the process of making a winning debut over hurdles at Down Royal, only to fall when three lengths clear at the last. He made it to the finish line last time out at Navan but found himself three-quarters of a length behind the winner, I’ll Sort That. Yet to finish outside the first two in five completed outings, he has scored top marks for consistency.
The only remaining Gordon Elliott entry is Road Exile, who goes in the instantly recognisable colours of Gigginstown House Stud – carried to victory by Felix Desjy in the 2019 edition of this race. Unlike Theflyingking, Road Exile has won over hurdles, having stepped up on a debut third to claim a maiden event at Navan. Having mastered a Mullins-trained rival in the closing stages that day, Elliott will hope for a similar result on Sunday afternoon.
Road Exile 🥇
Wins ‘The Timeless Sash Windows Maiden Hurdle’ @gelliott_racing | Jack Kennedy 👏 pic.twitter.com/yCKo10JrAs
— Navan Racecourse (@NavanRacecourse) December 6, 2025
Maiden winner Port Authority was the other Elliott to be taken out, he would have needed to bounce back from a disappointing effort in a Grade 2 at Navan on his most recent outing.
Can Mullins make it a round dozen? Will Elliott land the hat-trick? Or will the prize head elsewhere? Whatever the result, history suggests this contest is well worth watching with an eye to the future.