Lottery winner out to strike it rich again with Darver Star in Champion Hurdle

The chances of Darver Star developing into a Champion Hurdle contender seemed about as likely as winning the lottery after the 104-rated performer finished third in a Wexford maiden hurdle almost a year ago – but co-owner Simon Fagan knows all about defying outlandish odds.

Since that defeat on the Monday after fellow Gavin Cromwell-trained Espoir D'Allen won the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, Darver Star's three proud Louth owners have enjoyed a dream run, winning five of his next six starts, culminating in an Irish Champion Hurdle second to Honeysuckle.

William Hill are a best-priced 22-1 about the remarkable improver's chances for next month's showpiece, with the number 22 bearing plenty of significance for dedicated Gaelic Athletic Association follower Fagan.

Unibet Champion Hurdle card

"That was the number of the last ball that came out the draw on the night we had the bit of luck," he explains, referring to his €3.6 million lottery win in May 2013.

"We had to get it into the equation somewhere, so that's how the syndicate got its name [SSP Number Twentytwo Syndicate]. Hopefully, it continues to bring us a bit of luck."

Darver Star has made enormous progress this season, recording a popular success at Listowel in SeptemberCredit: Patrick McCann

The striking progress of the horse co-owned by Fagan and friends Pat Cluskey and Sean Fanning has made big waves around the smallest county in Ireland.

"The interest in the horse in the area is just unbelievable," said Cluskey, who bred the Kalanisi gelding along with Fanning. We're just ordinary fellas in a country area with a horse that everyone knows about locally. He runs in the Louth colours and it's brilliant they feel they have a part of him."

Long before his unlikely rise through the handicap ranks, Cluskey, who bred his dam and granddam, says the former third to Envoi Allen has done well to recover from a considerable injury.

He explained: "As a younger horse we always had hopes for him but he met with a serious setback. If it wasn't for the work of vet Ger Kelly, Paddy Magee, David Browne and my son Andrew he wouldn't be where he is now.

Darver Star and Jonathan Moore clear the last when winning the 2m4f novice hurdle at ListowelCredit: Patrick McCann

He added: "I couldn't give the granddam away before. I almost had her sold plenty of times. She was only 15.1 hands and people just kept saying she was too small. Luckily enough, we held on to her."

Regardless of their Champion Hurdle's outcome, Cluskey and company are relishing the chance to see their pride and joy in action on the biggest stage of all.

"They're saying it's not a great year for the Champion Hurdle but we couldn't care less," he said of the horse named after a former local football team. "Gavin has been delighted with him, but they say a week is a long time in politics and it's even longer in the life of a racehorse!"

Darver Star finished with a flourish to claim second behind Honeysuckle in the PCI Irish Champion HurdleCredit: Alain Barr

Fagan added: "You could never have imagined he'd take us this far. To progress from winning off 106 at Wexford to have a fair chance in the Champion Hurdle is something else.

"There's a few flags being made in the lead-up to Cheltenham around the local pubs. We'll enjoy it all."

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