IF you owned crack novice Old Park Star wouldn’t you just consider a possible Champion Hurdle tilt?
I know I would.
Some of you will immediately be furious at the suggestion, and mutter under your breath this kind of thing is mooted every time a really good one comes along.
But just take a step back and have a think for a moment.
Novices can win the Champion Hurdle – in relatively recent times Royal Gait in 1992, Alderbrook in 1995 and Make a Stand in 1997 did just that, while Moon Racer took part in the main event in 2017 – and if ever there has been a year to ‘have a go’ it’s surely this one.
The British Horse Racing Authority have just upped Old Park Star 9lb to an official rating of 151 after his latest romp in the Grade 2 Rossington Main Hurdle at Haydock.
Few would believe he’s not capable of more than that.
This is a Champion Hurdle currently without former hero State Man and now class act and red-hot ante-post favourite Sir Gino after his pelvic issues at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Current favourite Lossiemouth could still end up in the Mares’, while third favourite Constitution Hill is about to run on the Flat and no one has any idea whether connections want to go back jumping.
Second in the market is The New Lion, who scraped home at Cheltenham in Saturday’s Unibet Hurdle off a mark of 159, beating Nemean Lion a length and a half.
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Nemean Lion is rated 151, exactly the same at Old Park Star.
Brentford Hope was just about next to Nemean Lion in third, and he’s rated 138, 13lb inferior to Old Park Star.
Golden Ace is the current Champion Hurdle heroine, and she was on a mark of 144 when she landed last year’s extraordinary renewal where Constitution Hill and State Man (race in his grip) came down, while she was on 152 (1lb higher than Old Park Star) when second in the Christmas Hurdle.
Brighterdaysahead is rated 159 in Ireland as is Lossiemouth.
El Fabiolo doesn’t currently have a hurdle mark but I would expect him to be similar.
Inexperience is always the key negative for a novice in a race like the Champion Hurdle, as Old Park Star would probably have to go at a pace he hasn’t tackled before in his life.
But at least in the 2026 version – if they run – Lossiemouth, The New Lion and Golden Ace are closers rather than pacers.
The early speed would probably come from Brighterdaysahead and El Fabiolo should they be in the mix.
And of course the other factor is Old Park Star has an option and is currently 5-2 favourite for the Sky Bet Supreme against fellow novices.
So connections might just see that as an easier target.
But is it that much easier?
Paddy Power tell me that if you asked for a price on Old Park Star for the Champion Hurdle right now they would give you in the region of 20-1.
Champion Hurdle odds via Paddy Power
7-4 Lossiemouth
5-2 The New Lion
5-1 Constitution Hill
7-1 Brighterdaysahead
8-1 Golden Ace
10-1 Anzadam
20-1 El Fabiolo, Ballyburn, Old Park Star (if requested)
33-1 Nemean Lion
40-1 Poniros, Casheldale Lad
50-1 Alexei
66-1 Wilful, Lucky Place
100-1 Workahead
However, if they knew he would be supplemented he would be about 6-1.
Superb handler Nicky Henderson has said Old Park Star is a future chaser in the making, a bit like Sir Gino.
The former will be a seven-year-old next year, so it’s likely his future involves the Supreme in 2026 and then the Arkle in 2027.
But we all know – Saturday just shows us – anything can happen at any time.
For sure this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival will give more clues.
It all depends what your goals are in the game, and of course as mentioned Old Park Star would have to be supplemented.
But if I owned the horse I’d at least have the conversation.
Many will disagree!
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