Star sticking to hurdles this season Connections have decided to stick to hurdling this season with Darver Star following an excellent effort in Grade 1 company from the highly progressive gelding. The seven-year-old had won four on the bounce heading into the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse earlier this month and performed with plenty of credit at the top level when third to Envoi Allen. Originally the plan had been to turn his attentions to the larger obstacles but now trainer Gavin Cromwell is eyeing some nice prizes over hurdles in the New Year. Cromwell said:- “We were going to go chasing with Darver Star but he ran such a good race in the Royal Bond that we are going to put chasing on hold. “We’ll stick to hurdles for the rest of the season and then give him a clear run chasing next year. “He’s in the Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot next Saturday. There is a forfeit stage on Monday and it’s probably 50-50 at the moment and I’ll have a chat with the owners. “We might hold off and go for the Limestone Lad at Naas in January. He’s no longer a novice. “The lads that own him were delighted with the Royal Bond and it was better than any winner to have a third in a Grade One.”
