Arkle hope Starluck nearing chase debut

Alan Fleming has confirmed Starluck will make his debut over fences within the next fortnight with a view to a tilt at the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham.

The grey has been running consistently well at the highest level over the smaller obstacles for the past couple of seasons and was last seen placing third behind Binocular in the Christmas Hurdle.

Despite having not yet seen a fence in public so late in the season, Fleming is keen to go down the chasing route to see how his stable star fares.

"He's going to run over fences either next week or the week after and then, if all went well, he could run in the Arkle," said Fleming.

"He might run at Huntingdon next Thursday, or there is a race for him at Taunton a week or two later.

"He's been schooling away over fences and he seems to enjoy it and he's good at it.

"We always wanted to broaden our options with him and after Cheltenham we have Aintree and Punchestown to look at as well.

"We'll just have to see what happens on his next run as that will tell us if he likes it or not. We'll play it all by ear.

"If he enjoys it next time and does it well, then why not go to Cheltenham?"

Fleming is on the look out for a new jockey for his six-year-old however, with regular partner Timmy Murphy in line to ride leading hope Ghizao in the Arkle.

"We might have to find a new jockey unfortunately as Timmy will probably ride Ghizao at Cheltenham," the trainer continued.

"We haven't made any other riding arrangements yet, but we're discussing it. I think it's important who ever rides him in his first chase would ride him in the Arkle, though."