herald

Sunday 19 May 2013

Casey: 'All systems go' for Flemenstar in Lexus

Peter Casey reports Flemenstar (below) on course for the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on Friday following a pleasing schooling session under big-race jockey Andrew Lynch.

The seven-year-old is hot favourite for the Grade One contest after his defeat of previously unbeaten chaser Sir Des Champs in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase.

It will be Flemenstar's first attempt at three miles under Rules, but Casey remains confident his stamina will last out.

"Andrew Lynch is very happy with him and I'm delighted," Casey said. "It's all systems go for the Lexus. He's in great form and if we are able to put him to sleep for the first mile that'll be grand.

"He's won over two and a half miles but coming up that hill over the last two furlongs and last two fences will be the test.

"I'm more confident now than I was a few hours ago.

"I wasn't that happy a few hours ago with the rain and everything, but Andrew told me on the phone he's in great form."

Opinion

Entertainment News

the beatles

The Beatles started a revolution back in the USSR

If ever a band has been well served by the literary world it's The Beatles. Practically every aspect of that revolutionary body of work has been dealt with in book form... or so one would have thought. From Hunter Davies' The Beatles, through Philip Norman's Shout, Bob Spitz's humongously detailed history and Ian McDonald's brilliant Revolution in the Head, which offered a musical and contextual analysis of every song they ever recorded, surely there's nothing left of interest to diehard fans of the Fabs. Well, think again.