Champion Hurdle News: Starluck set for hurdling return

The Cheltenham Festival / Timeform / 25 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Starluck could make his reappearance in the coming weeks.

"He'd obviously come across two very good horses, but you can't not take them on..."

Starluck is on a collision course with either Binocular or Oscar Whisky as the very smart hurdler nears a return to action...

The former Alan Fleming inmate, rated 155 by Timeform, was fifth in the 2010 Champion Hurdle but has not been sighted since disappointing over fences last spring.

He will revert to hurdles for new trainer David Arbuthnot, who is considering running him against one of two Nicky Henderson-trained big guns in either the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown or the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las on February 4.

"He's fine and is coming along really well," said Arbuthnot.

"It's possible he might go to Sandown for the Contenders Hurdle, where he'd run against Binocular, or to Ffos Las for the Welsh Champion Hurdle, where he'd be up against Oscar Whisky.

"He'd obviously come across two very good horses, but you can't not take them on.

"The Kingwell Hurdle (Wincanton) is also an option, but we'll know more after he works at Kempton on Friday."