This has moved firmly into view for the hugely promising Starzand after an authoritative winning start to his hurdling career. The five-year-old, who fetched £230,000 after a wide-margin victory in the pointing field, made an immediate impression for Philip Hobbs and Johnson White when coasting home in a Ffos Las bumper back in March.

HARZAND’s fine run continues as STARZAND makes a winning hurdle debut for @PJHobbs1, making it 2 from 2 under rules 🏆 Bred by G Regan, he sold for £230,000 after impressing at Dromahane for Mary Doyle @BaltimoreStable pic.twitter.com/oXGuBPwZ41

— Kilbarry Lodge Stud (@KilbarryLdgStud) October 28, 2025

Returning there for his first crack over hurdles, he looked every bit as assured, brushing aside a notably competitive field and signalling that loftier assignments may be calling sooner rather than later.

“I was very pleased with how he won at Ffos Las and he’s a very exciting prospect,” said White.

“The Challow would be his target and whether he runs again before that or goes straight to Newbury, I’m not sure yet.

“There’s options at Ascot and Newbury for him in the next two or three weeks. We haven’t done a lot with him since Ffos Las, but we will just keep seeing how he is and go from there.

“We think we have a ‘real one’ and it was definitely a strong division of that hurdle that he won – I think there will be a lot of winners come out of that race and we could have finished fourth or fifth and still be entitled to say we have a really nice horse. I’m just glad we didn’t and we won.”

Challow Novices' Hurdle
£60,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 4f 118y, Class 1
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