Fleming has stars in his eyes
Starluck leaped into the Champion Hurdle picture as he oozed class in winning the sportingbet.com Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Trained by Alan Fleming, the four-year-old had finished fourth in the Triumph Hurdle last year when he appeared to find the famous hill a bridge too far.
However, with another summer on his back he looked a different proposition under Timmy Murphy who never moved a muscle in bringing him home two and a half lengths clear of Classic Swain to land the odds at 5-6.
“Timmy was very pleased with him and it was never in doubt,” said Fleming.
“We’ll tread carefully and any decision of where he runs will be made between Mr Wates (owner) and myself.
“This was a different class of race to the Triumph but Timmy does think he’s strengthened-up and improved.
“Kempton is the main plan. The Christmas Hurdle should be right up his street but there are a couple of opportunities in November at Newbury and Haydock.”
Poquelin earned himself a possible crack at the Paddy Power Gold Cup after winning the zeturf.com Handicap.
Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls has a handful of other contenders for the race but Ruby Walsh had far more in hand than the winning margin of a length suggested on the 9-2 favourite.
“I’ve always thought when watching him work that he’s a two-miler and I was a bit nervous when he hit the front two out,” said Nicholls.
“He did get home though and I’ll have to include him in the Paddy Power team along with Chapoturgeon, Tatenen and Kicks For Free.
“There is a two-mile handicap chase as well, so we’ll have wait and see.”
Nicholls and Walsh scored again as Just Amazing took the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Novices’ Chase following the departures of King Troy, Clifton Debut and Kennel Hill at the penultimate fence.
The 2-1 favourite, was left to come home with an 11-length cushion over Diablo.
“He’s astounded me with his progression. He’s from the family of Rhyme ’N’ Reason and they all stay,” said Nicholls.
“If the ground remains on the quick side I might run him in the Rising Stars Chase at Wincanton.”
Kangaroo Court was cut to 20-1 from 25s by Paddy Power for the Arkle Trophy after toying with his rivals under Jack Doyle in the Christmas Party Nights At Cheltenham Novices’ Chase.
The Emma Lavelle-trained gelding was sent off the evens favourite and came home four lengths clear of Red Admiral.
“The ideal race for him would be the two-and-a-half-mile novice chase at Aintree next April,” said Lavelle.
“His jumping is exceptional, but he does need good ground and when it’s soft he’ll be off on his holidays.”
The stewards held an inquiry after the field were forced to negotiate around a tape that had been left across part of the track as they came into the home straight.
However, as every runner avoided the obstacle, the result was allowed to stand.
Simon Claisse, clerk of the course, took full responsibility, adding: “As a consequence of human error, the tape was left in place and the horses ended up going slightly differently than the course had been laid out.
“However, as every horse did the same, the stewards decided no action needed to be taken but a full report will be forwarded to the British Horseracing Authority.”
