3 minute read

Three Stars caused a surprise when running out a ready winner of the At The Races At Navan 'For Auction' Novice Hurdle at the County Meath course.

Henry de Bromhead's five-year-old was sent off at odds of 12-1 in the field of five for the Grade Three after being beaten in his last two starts, but there looked to be no fluke about the victory.

After Billbushay fell away after leading after the fourth-last, it looked like Thomas Hobson was coming with a winning run. However, Johnny Burke pounced on Three Starsand the race was over in a matter of strides as he sped to victory by two and a quarter lengths.

Tycoon Prince, the 4-6 favourite, was only third.

De Bromhead said: "I thought that he would struggle on the ground.

"We said that we would hold on to him a bit more and he stayed at it well. He's obviously a nice horse.

"The plan was to give him a break after this until the spring.

"He could still do that or we may just back off him a little bit and then go to Leopardstown at Christmas."