Harrington hoping for good ground at Cheltenham

Jessica Harrington is hoping for some better ground when Cork All Star lines up in the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on March 11.

Last year’s Champion Bumper winner has the opening event at the Cheltenham Festival on his agenda despite finishing behind Muirhead, Whatuthink and Forpadydeplasterer on his last three outings.

Harrington said: “It’ll be straight to the Supreme – that’s the plan at the moment.

“His jumping is probably the thing, but we’ll see if we can get that sorted out before we get to Cheltenham and go from there.

“You’d imagine better ground might help as most of his form has been on better ground in the past.

“It looks a very open race with the way things have gone this winter.”

Harrington’s charge is one of 94 still in the two-mile Grade One showpiece following the forfeit stage, at which a total of 36 horses defected.

All the big players in an open ante-post market stood their ground, with JCB Triumph Hurdle-bound Franchoek the only name of betting significance missing from the remaining entries.

Captain Cee Bee, Rippling Ring, Numide and Muirhead all still feature.