Star set to shine

QUEST FOR A STAR, a useful sort when trained on the flat by John Oxx, can get off the mark over flights at the second time of asking in the Thurles Maiden Hurdle at Tipperary tonight.

Jessica Harrington’s six-year-old made a promising enough jumping debut at Cork ten days ago. He was, ultimately, no match for heavily-backed odds-on shot Kickham, but performed solidly nonetheless. Quest For A Star was beaten seven lengths and, though flattered by that margin, there was enough merit in the display to believe him capable of coping with this opposition.

Barring accidents the first division of the Tipperary Novice Chase can be safely narrowed down to The Gatherer and Golden Row, both horses who do their best work on the bridle.