GET SET FOR AN EASTER CRACKER!

Karl Hedley picks out runners and riders who can shine in the aftermath of Cheltenham

- Karl Hedley

The Cheltenham Festival has been and gone and it now seems appropriate to focus on another couple of big meetings such as the Fairy house Easter Festival as well as the upcoming meeting at Punchestown.

There were still plenty of horses who ran last month and caught the eye and who may well head to either of these two huge meetings or numerous others in the coming weeks.

Charming Star justified strong support when getting up in the closing stages to land the opening Maiden Hurdle over two miles at Navan at the beginning of the month.

The 5/6 favourite, who won over a mile-and-a-half on the Flat at Listowel last autumn and who made a promising debut over hurdles behind Ndaawi at Naas, appeared to be struggling when ridden approaching the final flight.

The front-running Welcome Back still held a three-lengths advantage early on the run-in but soon found little under pressure as Charming Star swept past. Danny Gilligan’s mount kept on well to beat the staying on Balko D’Ange by a length-and-a-quarter with Welcome Back dropping back to finish third.

Winning trainer Tom McCourt said: “He keeps a lot to himself, a lot of time he just does what he needs to. I’d say there is plenty of engine there. We’ll probably go back to the Flat with him. Hopefully, we can tip away in the better handicaps over a mile-and-six or two miles. He stays well.