Stars blitzes Morgiana rivals

Thousand Stars made every yard of the running under Ruby Walsh to run out a comfortable winner of the Ladbrokes.com Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown.

The Grade One prize was the intended target of Champion Hurdle-winning stablemate Hurricane Fly and although he was ruled out earlier in the week, the dashing grey Thousand Stars proved an able substitute.

Sent off the well supported 5-4 favourite for his first start since winning the French Champion Hurdle in June, Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old was hurdling fluently out in front and had the strongly fancied Pittoni in trouble from before the turn for home.

Oscars Well loomed up menacingly at the top of the straight but when Walsh asked Thousand Stars to quicken, he soon asserted and he produced a fine leap at the final flight to secure a five-and-a-half length win.