Old Park Star has owner dreaming of Supreme strike

“Unreal” is how Gordon Hall described the feeling of owning the new favourite for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, in the wake of Old Park Star’s dazzling performance at Haydock on Saturday.

Old Park Star was among the horses Hall and his wife Su moved from Paul Nicholls’ Ditcheat base in Somerset to Nicky Henderson and Seven Barrows in Lambourn over the summer.

While Nicholls has been credited for his patience with Old Park Star and another promising novice, Act Of Innocence, in their formative days, Henderson is undoubtedly reaping the rewards.

Old Park Star is as low as 2-1 for the Supreme, with Act Of Innocence due to test his Festival credentials at Cheltenham on Trials day at the weekend.

“Hopefully we’ll have the same result with Act Of Innocence. then we’ll have one for the two-mile race and one for two-and-a-half (Turners Novices’ Hurdle),” said Hall.

“Because of how Old Park Star performed last time at Cheltenham – we were a bit surprised that day – Nico (de Boinville) got off and said he didn’t ride him, he came up the hill by himself.

“We thought on a flatter track he might be caught out and the Moore horse (Hurricane Pat) might be tough to beat, but he proved he’s got plenty of speed.

“There’s nothing between the two horses at home and when they’ve schooled and gone over further, there’s nothing to split them.

“This lad has some lovely size about him, I actually said to Su when we bought him if he was no good I could maybe send him hunting – not that I’d be sitting on him mind!”

Hall now has around six weeks to keep his nerves in check as the anticipation builds.

He went on: “If we can have some fun days and keep him healthy he could be one for the future.

“This is what the game is about, there are a lot of bad days in racing so you have to enjoy the good ones. This is what it is all about, this keeps the game going for us.

“Having the favourite for the Supreme feels unreal. We had Ginny’s Destiny well fancied there a couple of years ago, but to have two youngsters who we bought as stores coming through is exciting.

“I feel as sick as a dog before our races. I love the game. I’ll have to get there (Cheltenham) about 9.30am and have about half a bottle of Jamesons in the car!”

His wife swiftly interjected: “He isn’t allowed Jamesons!”

Hall added: “I have a thing where I’ll have three or four pints of Guinness to steady my nerves, wear my lucky socks and kiss the lucky coin my wife has.

“Act Of Innocence worked on Saturday morning and absolutely flew up the gallops, so I’d be disappointed if he didn’t put up a similar performance.

“There’s nothing between them, the jockey isn’t a man to get excited by a lot but he says they both have huge engines.

“I’ve been watching over in Ireland but the problem is you don’t know what is coming out.

“If I was watching that I’d be more worried about him.”