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Starluck in Top Form Ahead of Christmas Hurdle Bid
13/12/10

Irish-born racehorse trainer Alan Fleming is still yet to be a recognisable face on British racecourses, but all that could easily change if the plan for his stable star Starluck comes to fruition and he wins the Grade 1 William Hill Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day, writes Elliot Slater.

Starluck
© Grossick Racing Photography

The five-year-old went agonisingly close to landing the spoils in the feature Kempton hurdle 12 months ago, when failing by only short-head to peg back the smart Noel Meade-trained Go Native in a thrilling finish. The grey Key Of Luck gelding went on to run another fine race when an honourable fifth behind Binocular in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, before being given the rest of the spring and summer off to strengthen up ahead of another concerted effort to scale the heights of the hurdling tree this winter.

Fleming could not have been happier with Starluck's reappearance effort at Newbury last month in the re-routed Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle, when he was produced to challenge after the last by regular partner Timmy Murphy only to find the unbeaten star Peddlers Cross a length-and-a-quarter too good for him. Champion hurdler Binocular was left six lengths behind in third.

Those often looking at the kempton racing odds suggest that the sharp Kempton two-mile hurdle track will suit Starluck perfectly, being a horse who travels on the bridle and has a telling turn of foot. With Binocular being rested until into the New Year and Donald McCain, trainer of Peddlers Cross, insisting that Kempton has been ruled out for his horse as the track will not play to his strengths, Starluck is looking more and more like the one they all have to beat.

Weather permitting the moment for Fleming's standard bearer is drawing nea and, according to many racing kempton betting odds, Starluck looks right up to the task of providing his handler with a first Grade 1 success.