English/Ire
Old Park Star shines in Cheltenham opener
Nicky Henderson looks to have unearthed a live Cheltenham Festival contender after Old Park Star strode clear for an impressive victory in the opening British EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.
Sent off the 5/2 second favourite on the back of a smooth success at Kempton, Old Park Star always looked to be travelling kindly under Nico De Boinville, who only had to shake his mount up following a smooth round of jumping to quicken clear for an impressive twelve-length win.
As a result, Coral cut the winner to 8/1 for the Cheltenham Festival opener in March, while Paddy Power was less impressed and went 20/1 before being forced to cut their price to 16s.
Speaking on Racing TV, an impressed Nicky Henderson said: "It looked rather a deep race on paper, and I was wondering if I was in the right place, but it turns out I was.
"I've got to say I was impressed; I just loved the way he did it, he jumped, he travelled and quickened. He's very straightforward and just a nice person.
"It wasn't as if he was rushing to get to the front and it wasn't like they were going that quick, so I think he just enjoyed himself. His jumping was really really strong and the future looks good. He'll make a lovely chaser in time, but we'll stick to this job for the time being."
On where we might see him next, Henderson revealed that he has a nice dilemma on his hands as he looks to keep Old Park Star and recent Newbury winner and stablemate Act Of Innocence, who also carries the colours of Gordon and Su Hall, apart.
He added: "We're very lucky that Gordon and Su have Act Of Innocence as well who was very impressive at Newbury a couple of weeks ago.
"I'm certainly thinking he is a two-mile horse and this fella we were thinking would get another half mile, but it didn't seem necessary today and he really quickened off not a particularly strong gallop, so must have quickened a fair bit.
"We'll try to split them up and it's a nice problem to have. Act Of Innocence could go to Aintree for the Formby, but three days later there is an introductory hurdle at Newbury for horses that have only run once so we'll see how it pans out over the Christmas period.
"There's a two-and-a-half-mile race on Trials day that could be for Old Star Park, but let's just see, he's taken me by surprise by the authority of it all. I hadn't been making any grand plans at this stage, but we might have to, which is a very nice problem."
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