Stars set to stay hurdling

THOUSAND STARS is set to remain over hurdles after he gained a richly-deserved Grade One victory in Saturday’s French Champion Hurdle.

The seven-year-old grey ran a number of excellent races in defeat during the last National Hunt season, finishing not too far behind illustrious stablemate Hurricane Fly at Leopardstown, Cheltenham and Punchestown.

He was also beaten just a neck by Oscar Whisky at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.