Trainer Peter Casey has no doubt three miles is well within Flemenstar's range following his superb performance in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on Sunday.

The seven-year-old appeared to face his toughest task to date in tackling the previously unbeaten chaser Sir Des Champs, but he produced a foot-perfect round of jumping under Andrew Lynch to beat his fellow Cheltenham Gold Cup hope with plenty to spare.

Casey said: "There's not a bother on him this morning. He didn't have that hard a race really. I was a bit worried last week as he seemed very quiet, and he was the same at the races yesterday, but maybe he's just growing up."

The John Durkan was over two and a half miles and Casey is now looking forward to seeing his pride and joy test his powers over three miles for the first time under Rules in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

The long-term target is Gold Cup, where his stamina will be tested even more severely over the extended three and a quarter miles of Prestbury Park.

"We have another big day coming up at Christmas. That will be his first run over three miles and it will tell us a lot more," said the trainer.

"I don't think he'll have any trouble getting the trip there and as Mick Fitzgerald (former jockey) said, only time will tell how he gets on over the last couple of fences in the Gold Cup. Let's just hope we get there.

"I don't think he was fully ready for yesterday and I think he can improve between now and Christmas, but then he'll probably need to. We'll get his next race out of the way before we look any further. The good thing about him is the ground doesn't make any difference.

"I never thought I'd have a horse like this and you have to give credit to the owner, as he could have sold him 10 times in the summer. If he'd sold him he wouldn't still be with me, but he always said he wasn't going to sell and I'm very happy he didn't!"

Paddy Power have installed Flemenstar as the 2-1 favourite for the Lexus, with Hennessy Gold Cup winner Bobs Worth quoted at 9-4 with a run. They then go 100-30 Sir Des Champs, 9-2 Tidal Bay, 6-1 Sizing Europe (with a run), 7-1 First Lieutenant, Hidden Cyclone, 10-1 Quel Esprit, 12-1 bar.

18 June 2013

Stevens is king of the Castle
O'Neill ace proves too sharp
Ballydoyle in command in Coventry
Dawn delivers in thriller
Sole powers to sprint glory
Al Thani snaps up Sandiva
O'Brien sounds War cry
Minute's silence remembers Cecil
Duntle on Cambridge duty
Alive and Just in Ribblesdale mix
Passage heads Gold field
Deegan considers Soprano options
Toro out for Palace glory
Cecil's words not lost on Ponsonby
Dawn out for Palace redemption
Hawkwood supplemented for Hardwicke
Flotilla To Drop Back In Trip
Cecil's Chigun in Cambridge action
Al Kazeem and Camelot clash again
De Kock hoping to make history
War ready for Royal Ascot battle
Kingdom set to reign over Ascot

17 June 2013

Magician set for Palace showdown
Cat clings on for Carroll
Three more winners for Lady Cecil
Monaghan delivers on Midnight
Treve in stunning Diane win
Sapphire target for Trees
Beckett mulls Secret options
Nicholls has broken wrist

16 June 2013

Songbird aiming to fly high
Movie has Newmarket on radar
Fahey juveniles primed for action
Stubbs leads O'Brien Coventry team
Salsify on summer break
Kempton target for Benbulben
Top trio head Palace runners
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Animal heads Queen Anne field
Saint-Cloud aim for Dunaden
Magician to be declared for Palace
Soul all heart in York sprint
Kingsgate rules Musselburgh
Sam too sharp for rivals
Hughes makes it pay with Knight
Balding on mark with double
Morawij in a hurry in Scurry
Bartley is queen for a day
Big guns to clash in Coronation

15 June 2013

Marengo set for battle royal
Saddler's ready to rock - Oxx
Soprano primed to hit right notes
Balding receives OBE
Victory on a plate for Montaser
Magician run in the balance
Secret set to make Ascot stand
Probert return delayed
Nagle covers Maarek options
Ribblesdale chance for Lark
Walker hoping Guns will fire
Estimate in Royal Gold run