CAN STARLUCK STILL WIN THE CHRISTMAS HURDLE? 'Zaynar is blessed w ith gears that will be seen to greater effect over the shorter trip'.

THOUGHT you were missing something when Starluck was allotted quotes of 25-1 for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle after winning with consummate ease on his reappearance last month at Cheltenham? You weren't alone.

Fourth to Zaynar in last season's JCB S Hurdle, and third to Walkon at Aintree, he finished hardheld on his return at Cheltenham and looked sure to win at Haydock on Saturday when cruising into the lead against Mr Thriller in the race that Binocular won last year.

The record, of course, will show Starluck (nearest in picture below) finished second to Mr Thriller, and his odds for the Champion remain 25-1. However, anyone who watched Saturday's race would be hard pressed to say that Starluck would not gain his revenge on that horse on a flatter course and on better ground.

The Christmas Hurdle will suit Starluck perfectly. He won at the meeting last year, he will be much better off with a bigger field goinS g a faster pace, and far more effective on quicker ground.

Timmy Murphy knows him well, and will look to time his run better. In hindsight he hit the front too soon at Haydock, but he was going so well it is unfair to blame him. Another positive is that, with due respect to the rest of his string, trainer Alan Fleming can focus a lot of attention on Starluck.

The Christmas Hurdle will certainly not be easy to win, as the victor from Saturday's WBX Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle will inevitably show up, with a pounds 1 million bonus on the line - the Champion is the third leg.

Starluck would be a shorter price for the Champion if he were with a bigger yard and can prove the point at Kempton.

Andrew Scutts Five things we learned from the weekend, page 16