Starluck enters Triumph picture Starluck, formerly trained by Kevin Prendergast, made it two from two over hurdles with an impressive display at Fakenham today and earned himself a 16-1 quote for the Triumph Hurdle. The gelding is now in the care of Alan Fleming, formerly based on the Curragh, and now salaried trainer to Starluck's owner Andrew Wates. Victor Chandler introduced the Key Of Luck gelding into their market for the Cheltenham Festival race after the three-year-old gelding hammered 10 rivals under Timmy Murphy. Starluck, carrying the colours of 1996 Grand National hero Rough Quest, collared the eventual runner-up Laterly soon after the third-last. He did not need to come off the bridle in scoring by 18 lengths to justify 6-4 favouritism. Starluck made a winning hurdles debut last month at Huntingdon and showed he has progressed again. He may next head to Kempton on December 27th for the stanjamesuk.com Juvenile Novices' Hurdle - but it is possible connections will opt to run him before then. Fleming said: "He was very impressive and we haven't a horse good enough to work with him at home. "This is a very smart horse. The first time he jumped a hurdle at home he really wanted to do it. "He has a really good attitude and a really high cruising speed. "We will step him up in class now but will try to keep him to better ground. That was soft enough for him." Murphy was similarly pleased and said: "I was very impressed with him at Huntingdon and he has done it nicely. "I was expecting the second horse to take me further but he is in great form and improving all the time."
