Cantillon stalwart La Estrella back in action at Southwell

La Estrella has a second run back from his latest retirement in the Southwell seller (2.45) on Thursday when he drops back to 1m4f for the first time since finishing runner-up in the same contest in 2015.

The 14-year-old remains just one victory short of equalling Stand Guard's record all-weather tally of 28 wins and ran a respectable fifth on his latest return in a 2m handicap at the Nottinghamshire track last month.

Although he drops in class, the 70-rated La Estrella will not find it easy with the likes of the 92-rated former Mallard handicap winner Stomachion in the seven-runner field, as well as Luv U Whatever who has a rating of 83.

Despite his stalwart's advancing years, trainer Don Cantillon insists that extending the career of his old stager is all part of a process of therapy.

He said: "We ran La Estrella back there the other day as part of a therapy process as he still thinks he's a racehorse and we needed to get the freshness out of him. That worked for a while but the freshness has come back so we'll give him another spin.

"He has no chance of winning looking at the conditions of the race and the trip will be a bit short, but he'll enjoy the day out."