Darver aiming to Star in Boyne battle

Ashley Iveson
February 21, 2022 11:57 am

Cromwell runner tackles Navan contest.

Darver Star bids to get back on the winning trail in the BetVictor Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Tuesday.

The two-mile-five-furlong contest is one of two Grade Two prizes up for grabs on a card that was swiftly rescheduled after being cancelled on Sunday due to waterlogging.

Placed in both the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown and the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham two years ago, Darver Star has been campaigned over longer trips for much of this season.

Gavin Cromwell’s decision to switch his charge back to the smaller obstacles paid off with a wide-margin victory at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve, while he was last seen filling the runner-up spot behind Brewin’upastorm at Lingfield.

Cromwell said: “He’s in good shape. I just hope the ground isn’t too soft. We had a terrible night’s rain, so I really don’t know if the meeting will go ahead or not.

⭐️ Darver Star is back in business

Third in the 2020 Champion Hurdle, Darver Star is all class on his return to timber with an impressive success for @donoghue_keith & @gavincromwell1 pic.twitter.com/4QFnC88eft
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 31, 2021

“I’ve just made an entry in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell on Sunday, so we’ll just have to see what the next 12 or 14 hours bring.”

Darver Star holds an entry in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle next month, a race won by stable companion Flooring Porter last season.

On whether Darver Star could step up three miles at the Festival, Cromwell added: “It just depends. I suppose if he went and won the Boyne Hurdle, and stayed well, we’d leave him in it anyway.”

Matthew Smith is hoping stable star Ronald Pump can get his season back on track.

Ronald Pump needs to bounce back to form (PA)

The Schiaparelli gelding kicked off his campaign by finishing second to the brilliant Honeysuckle in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse, but has since disappointed at Ascot and Leopardstown.

Smith said: “He seems in good form now – he’s been freshened up since Christmas.

“He never settled at all in Ascot and burnt himself out, then I suppose Christmas in Leopardstown came too soon afterwards.

“We have no real plans after Tuesday. We didn’t even enter him for Cheltenham, but if things went well you could look at Aintree. If they didn’t, we’d make another plan. Nothing is set in stone.”

Noel Meade’s course winner Thedevilscoachman switches back to hurdles following successive placed efforts over fences, while Martin Brassil’s Thyestes Chase hero Longhouse Poet warms up for a potential tilt at the Grand National.

Gordon Elliott at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)

The other Grade Two on the card is the BetVictor Ten Up Novice Chase, in which Gordon Elliott appears to hold the ace hand.

The Cullentra handler declared the Gigginstown House Stud-owned pair of Farouk D’Alene and Run Wild Fred, as well as Braeside.

Meade’s Grade One winner Beacon Edge and his stablemate Lieutenant Command also carry the Gigginstown silks, while Pat Griffin’s rank outsider Antey completes the line-up.