Starr shines with embarrassing ease

Norah Starr twice successful on the Flat two years ago, opened her jumping account in no uncertain fashion when routing the opposition in the Supermacs Ballinrobe & Claremorris Handicap Hurdle.

Trained and ridden by Denis Hogan, the six-year-old mare swept to the front between the final two flights and quickly shot clear before the last.

Hogan could afford to ease the 3/1 favourite right down on the run-in and still had six and a half lengths to spare over Rolling Rocket the subject of strong on-course support from 14/1 into 8/1. News Show (8/1) completed the placings another length and three quarters adrift in third.

Hogan said, “To be honest I wasn’t going to run her as I got a text this morning saying the ground was heavy. Then when we finished riding out I saw there were six horses taken out of the race, so we said we’d let her take her chance. I got another text to say it was soft before we left home.

“It wasn’t a great contest but she deserved to win it, and it’s good to see her back to her best. She disappointed me a bit at Sligo but probably needed that run.”

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy