Flemenstar remains on track to kick off a campaign over the minimum distance of two miles in Sunday’s Fortria Chase at Navan that could wind up with Cheltenham Gold Cup glory in March.
The Peter Casey-trained star propelled himself among the leading lights of a new wave of Irish steeplechase talent last season with a spectacular winning streak that culminated in a devastating success in the Powers Gold Cup over Easter.
Along the way his colourful Dublin trainer became something of a household name too but things are set to get serious for a horse that is as low as 7 to 1 second favourite behind his compatriot Sir Des Champs in some ante-post lists for steeplechasing’s blue riband.
A mouth-watering pre-Christmas duel between the two young pretenders could yet happen in next month’s John Durkan Chase at Punchestown but Flemenstar has the option of getting a pipe-opener this weekend in Navan’s Grade Two feature. Casey has left his stable star among an entry of 10 for the two mile contest which in the past was a regular start-off for the legendary short-distance champion Moscow Flyer and which is again a target for another former Queen Mother Champion in Big Zeb.
However, the fact the field might cut up is appealing to Casey, who is unsure if his class act is quite 100 per cent fit.
“It maybe might be a little too early for him. He was taken to the Curragh this morning and popped over a few fences by Andrew Lynch and I’m waiting for him to tell me what he thinks as I didn’t go,” Casey said yesterday.
“I wouldn’t have thought Sizing Europe would run, he’ll go to Clonmel I think, so Andrew won’t have to make a choice. Realt Dubh only ran the other day, too. It could be a small field and owner lives near Navan so there’s a chance he could run,” he added.
Henry De Bromhead has left in the 2011 two-mile champion Sizing Europe who skipped the JNwine Chase at Down Royal last weekend due to the ground conditions. However, Clonmel’s Morris Oil Chase is also an option for him and De Bromhead has reported: “He could run in the Fortria or in the Clonmel Oil and at this stage I am leaning towards Clonmel.”
Navan’s other Grade Two event on Sunday is the Lismullen Hurdle where the top mare Voler La Vedette could wind up clashing with Willie Mullins’s promising stayer So Young. Ground conditions are currently “soft” at Navan where the Grade Three For Auction Hurdle will also take place, a likely option for Dessie Hughes’s progressive Captain Arceus.
Mouse Morris is likely to take his time with his own Gold Cup hope First Lieutenant who found only Kauto Stone too good at Down Royal on Saturday. The Co Tipperary trainer had been considering a tilt at the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on December 1st for his charge, but the handicapper has forced him into a rethink.
“It was a good run at the weekend and there’s not a bother on him after the race, which is the main thing,” said Morris of a horse who finished runner- up to Bob’s Worth in last season’s RSA at Cheltenham.
