SR Ventilation Kill GAA Hurdle: Results & Payouts

Highland Crystal Secures Victory in Naas Rated Hurdle

Naas Racecourse played host to the SR Ventilation Supporting Kill GAA Rated Hurdle on Saturday, February 7, 2026, with Highland Crystal emerging victorious in a competitive race for four-year-olds. The event, a hurdle race with a total prize pool of EUR 16,000, saw Highland Crystal, trained by G. Elliott and ridden by Jack Kennedy, cross the finish line first after a distance of one mile, seven furlongs and 158 yards. The going was described as soft to heavy, with heavy patches in places.

The winning time was recorded at 4 minutes and 4.30 seconds. Highland Crystal, carrying a weight of 11-7, faced stiff competition throughout the race. The horse disputed the lead and was pushed along two furlongs from the finish, strongly pressed when jumping right at the last hurdle. Despite drifting towards the stands’ side rail in the run-in, Highland Crystal stayed on well under pressure to secure the win. The final odds for Highland Crystal were 11/8.

Saratoga, trained by P. Roche and ridden by Mark Walsh, finished a close second, three-quarters of a length behind the winner. Saratoga tracked the leaders, making headway into second place approaching the last hurdle, and strongly pressed Highland Crystal early in the run-in. The horse maintained the same pace close to home, finishing with odds of 7/1.

Munsif, trained by C. Byrnes and ridden by Philip Byrnes, secured third place, finishing eight and a half lengths behind the leader. Munsif was held up in last place, taking a keen hold, and pushed along after two furlongs out. The horse went third approaching the last hurdle but lacked the extra pace needed to challenge for the win, finishing with odds of 14/1.

Kilmeaden, trained by Donnacha O’Brien and ridden by J J Slevin, finished fourth, six lengths behind Munsif. Kilmeaden disputed the lead early on but was headed three furlongs out and weakened in the run-in. The horse was the favorite going into the race, with odds of 11/10.

Genealogy, trained by D. Hogan and ridden by D G Hogan, finished fifth, five and a half lengths behind Kilmeaden. Genealogy tracked the leaders but lost position and weakened approaching the last hurdle, finishing with odds of 20/1.

The race featured five runners in total. Minella Boss, trained by O McKiernan and ridden by Phillip Enright, was a non-runner.

The Tote Win for Highland Crystal paid out EUR 2.38, while the Place paid out EUR 1.10 and EUR 2.60. The Tote Exacta (1,6) – Highland Crystal and Saratoga – returned EUR 9.00. The Tote Trifecta (1,6,5) – Highland Crystal, Saratoga, and Munsif – paid out EUR 48.30.

The SR Ventilation Supporting Kill GAA Rated Hurdle offered significant prize money, with the winner receiving EUR 9,600 (with a penalty value of EUR 9,440), the second-place finisher receiving EUR 3,200, and the third-place finisher receiving EUR 1,600. Fourth place earned EUR 800, and fifth place earned EUR 480. A sixth-place finish would have yielded EUR 320.

The race showcased a compelling battle between several promising four-year-old hurdlers, with Highland Crystal ultimately proving to be the strongest contender on the day. The performance of Saratoga, finishing a close second, suggests a bright future for the horse, while Munsif’s third-place finish demonstrated its potential in this competitive field. The heavy conditions at Naas added an extra layer of challenge for both horses and jockeys, making Highland Crystal’s victory all the more impressive.