Charming Star (left) and Danny Gilligan© Photo Healy Racing
Charming Star justified strong support when getting up in the closing stages to land the opening Meath Farm Machinery Maiden Hurdle at Navan.
The 5/6 favourite, who won a 1m4f maiden at Listowel last autumn and made a promising debut over hurdles behind Ndaawi at Naas, appeared to be struggling when ridden approaching the final flight.
The front-running Welcome Back still held a three lengths advantage early on the run-in but soon found little under pressure as Charming Star swept past.
Danny Gilligan ’s mount kept on well to beat the staying on Balko D’ange by a length and a quarter with Welcome Back dropping back to finish third.
Winning trainer Tom McCourt said, “He keeps a lot to himself, a lot of time he just does what he needs to. I'd say there is plenty of engine there.
“We'll probably go back to the Flat with him. Hopefully we can tip away in the better handicaps over a mile-and-six or two miles. He stays well.
“He'll probably come back here for a Flat race in April, at the minute that's the plan.
“I got a few lads to buy him back because I thought we'd have plenty of fun with him during the summer.
“He ran very well here on yielding ground on his first run, over a mile-and-a-quarter, and he travelled well. I don't think he has to have heavy ground but on nicer ground you'd want to be going a trip.”
Quotes by Gary Carson
