Flemenstar shocker at Leopardstown

Flemenstar is back in the limelight after storming to victory from Simply Ned in the grade one Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown today for former long-time partner Andrew Lynch.

The Ashbourne man was deputising for Flemenstar's more-recent partner Keith Donoghue who is recovering from injury

Lynch partnered Flemenstar to his last win two years ago in the Fortria Chase at Navan, but has only run four times since that victory due to injury and he is now trained by owner Stephen Curran's son Tony who was recording his success since taking out a licence this summer.

Flemenstar was returned at 16/1 but benefited when the odds-on favourite, the Willie Mullins-trained fell two from home after making the running and looking all-over a winner at that stage.

That left Simply Ned in front into the straight while Flemenstar was hampered by the faller, but the Dunsany-owned horse stayed on well over the last as his rival tired.

“I feel sorry for Keith Donoghue who would have ridden him, but injured his eye recently,” siad the trainer who suggested an outing at Punchestown next month could be the next target provided Flemenstar comes out of today's race okay.

Barry Geraghty was in double form at Leopardstown with a wiiner in the big handicap chase for his boss P McManus when he partnered Minella Foru landed the first prize of €106,800.

Geraghty was also on the mark in the opening race for trainer Aidan O'Brien when he won the juvenile hurdle with Ivanvich Gorbatov.