Burke may target France with Sparky

Keiran Burke has the French Champion Hurdle as a possible long-term target for his talented mare Sparky May.

Burke rode her into second place behind Quevega in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle but has now retired and is concentrating on training, having taken over the reins at Pat Rodford’s Somerset stables.

Sparky May could kick-off the new campaign in the totequadpot Mares’ Handicap Hurdle at Wincanton on Saturday, although she is not a certain runner.

“She’s entered up to run at Wincanton on Saturday. It’s a handicap so I’m a bit worried about the weights,” Burke told At The Races.

“She’s not definitely going to run and the ground’s an issue as well. I wouldn’t say the David Nicholson is her main target as I personally don’t think Cheltenham suits her down to the ground.

“There are races on the way we are not going to miss and not just aim for Cheltenham. We’ve got it in the back of our heads that if she does improve again this year we might go to France for their Champion Hurdle, but that’s a long way off.”

Burke, whose very first runner Fortification was a winner at Exeter on Tuesday, could run Holmwood Legend in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday week.

The 10-year-old gave Burke success as a jockey in the Byrne Group Plate at this year’s Festival and was runner-up to Poquelin at Prestbury Park on his final start in April.

“He’s in the Paddy Power and he’s in very good form,” Burke said.

“He’s in very good form. He’s obviously older now so I’d be hopeful I personally think he’s a Spring horse, but we’ve got to go for these kind of races because of what he did last year. He improved so much. I don’t know, we’ll have to see.”