Harrington hoping for sound surface for All Star

Jessica Harrington is hoping for better ground when Cork All Star lines up in the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices´ Hurdle on March 11.

Last year´s Champion Bumper winner has the opening event at the Cheltenham Festival on his agenda despite finishing behind Muirhead, Whatuthink and Forpadydeplasterer on his last three outings.

Harrington said: "It´ll be straight to the Supreme - that´s the plan at the moment.

"His jumping is probably the thing, but we´ll see if we can get that sorted out before we get to Cheltenham and go from there.

"You´d imagine better ground might help as most of his form has been on better ground in the past.

"It looks a very open race with the way things have gone this winter."

Harrington´s charge is one of 94 still in the two-mile Grade One showpiece following the forfeit stage, at which a total of 36 horses defected.

All the big players in an open ante-post market stood their ground, with JCB Triumph Hurdle-bound Franchoek the only name of betting significance missing from the remaining entries.

Captain Cee Bee, Rippling Ring, Numide and Muirhead all still feature.