DARVER Star bids to get back on the winning trail in the BetVictor Boyne Hurdle at Navan on Tuesday.

The two-mile, five-furlong contest is one of two Grade 2 prizes up for grabs on a card that was swiftly rescheduled after being cancelled on Sunday due to waterlogging.

Longer trips

Placed in both the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown and the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham two years ago, Darver Star has been campaigned over longer trips for much of this season.

Gavin Cromwell’s decision to switch his charge back to the smaller obstacles paid off with a wide-margin victory at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve, while he was last seen filling the runner-up spot behind Brewin’upastorm at Lingfield.

Good shape

Cromwell said: “He’s in good shape. I just hope the ground isn’t too soft. We had a terrible night’s rain.

“I’ve just made an entry in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell on Sunday, so we’ll just have to see what the next 12 or 14 hours bring.”

Darver Star holds an entry in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle next month, a race won by stable companion Flooring Porter last season.

On whether Darver Star could step up three miles at the festival, Cromwell added: “It just depends. I suppose if he went and won the Boyne Hurdle, and stayed well, we’d leave him in it anyway.”

Pump back

Matthew Smith is hoping stable star Ronald Pump can get his season back on track.

The Schiaparelli gelding kicked off his campaign by finishing second to the brilliant Honeysuckle in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse, but has since disappointed at Ascot and Leopardstown.

Smith said: “He seems in good form now – he’s been freshened up since Christmas.

“He never settled at all in Ascot and burnt himself out, then I suppose Christmas in Leopardstown came too soon afterwards.

“We didn’t even enter him for Cheltenham, but if things went well you could look at Aintree. If they didn’t, we’d make another plan. Nothing is set in stone.”

Thedevilscoachman switches

Noel Meade’s course winner Thedevilscoachman switches back to hurdles following successive placed efforts over fences, while Martin Brassil’s Thyestes Chase hero Longhouse Poet warms up for a potential tilt at the Grand National.

The other Grade 2 on the card is the BetVictor Ten Up Novice Chase, in which Gordon Elliott appears to hold the ace hand.

The Cullentra handler declared the Gigginstown House Stud-owned pair of Farouk D’Alene and Run Wild Fred, as well as Braeside.

Meade’s Grade 1 winner Beacon Edge and his stablemate Lieutenant Command also carry the Gigginstown silks, while Pat Griffin’s rank outsider Antey completes the line-up.