Punjabi faces Kingwell test

Celestial Halo set to renew rivalry in Grade One feature

Last updated: 16th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

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Reigning Champion Hurdler Punjabi is one of eight horses entered for Saturday's Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton.

Iin what could be a high-class renewal, Nicky Henderson's charge will be searching for a first victory of the campaign as he warms-up for a return to Cheltenham.

Last year's Champion Hurdle runner-up Celestial Halo could renew rivalry and, along with Qozak, is one of two possible runners for Paul Nicholls.

Starluck reappears after finishing just a short head behind Go Native in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, and trainer Alan Fleming is hoping conditions are not too testing.

"The forecast doesn't sound great but if it's good to soft or soft we'll maybe let him take his chance before Cheltenham," said Fleming.

"He won at Cheltenham in October. Maybe he didn't beat much, but he came up the hill well and he's physically getting stronger all the time.

"You can see that in his shoulders and his back end that he's really improving.

"You're never going to get that summer ground in the winter so you have to take what you get and I think he's learning to deal with it a bit better all the time."

Mon Michel, Petito, Serpentaria, Treaty Flyer are the other contenders.