Cheltenham in the balance. Aintree a possibility. ------------------------------------ What a load of old bollocks.
Andrew Lynch thought something was wrong on Saturday. So that's why he pulled him up 2 out. Utter bollox
More to follow.... Racing Post FLEMENSTAR is almost certainly out of the Cheltenham Festival after trainer Peter Casey on Monday night revealed his stable star has a lung infection which is likely to have contributed to his defeat by Sir Des Champs in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Saturday. Our vet Paddy Kelly came to check him out today and everything else was perfect, his bloods and all but he has picked up a lung infection," Casey said. "I knew something was up on Saturday. He wasn't striding out the way he usually does down the back straight. That wasn't the real Flemenstar. "He's 90 per cent certain to miss Cheltenham. To be honest I'd say it's practically 100 per cent as I can't imagine there would be enough time to have him ready. We will more than likely try to get him ready for the two-and-a-half miler at Aintree [Melling Chase] now. That looks the best option for him. "It's obviously a blow but he's a young horse with plenty of years left in him. He'll come back from it. I've no doubt about that." Flemenstar was the general 3-1 favourite for the Ryanair Chase and 5-1 second favourite for the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase behind Sprinter Sacre.
Well if Hendo can rule Binocular out for the season, three weeks before the Champion hurdle. Anythings possible!
Sometimes the scepticism on this forum amazes me. For the second time in 2 days (after Puffin Billy) a horse is diagnosed with a physical ailment after a race and suddenly connections are a bunch of lying, cheating bastards who are just trying to put us honest punters away Puffin Billy was declared lame by the course vet and a pus-filled blister was found on his foot. His performance on Sunday was clearly not his true running, he was beaten too far out. I'm not saying he would have won, but as soon as the news that he was lame came out it was immediately insinuated that they were looking for excuses. Whatever you think of Peter Casey and Stephen Curran they have (IMHO) always tried to be open and honest about Flemenstar. Yes, some of their comments were perhaps a touch rash in the heat of the moment (Peter Casey would never get a job as a diplomat) but I don't think they have ever tried to pull the wool over anyones eyes. The Lexus did not fully answer the stamina question and they were entitled to have another crack at 3 miles. Whilst the ride given to Flemenstar was "strange" (especially after the 2nd last) it is entirely possible that Andrew Lynch had already felt that Flemenstar was not travelling with his usual zest and knew that kicking on wasn't an option. Regarding the Ryanair, I personally think it is one of the most exciting and fiercely contested races of the festival BUT I can also understand that some people preferred the 3-day festival and that the move to 4 days (and potentially to 5 in future?) is diluting the essence of it. If connections of a horse feel that the Ryanair is not a prestigeous or worthwhile as the Champion Chase or Gold Cup then they are entitled to aim their horse wherever they want to. I guess its a sign of the times that every statement made by horses connections is treated with suspicion and mocked. It makes me laugh to read some of the comments on Paul Nicholls Betfair column each Saturday. The trainer tries to give an honest assessment of each of his runners chances and yet posters moan about him not giving a clear steer! As if he KNOWS what's going to happen in each race - can you really see him wiriting: "Get on Zarkandar for the Kingwell lads, he's a MONSTER price". It seems to me you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't. Unless you're Willie Mullins - he's apparently fine to enter all his horses in multiple races, give hints at where each will run and then change his mind at the last minute.
At least they have come out and said that he is unlikely and that he has an issue. The issue may or may not relate to why he was beaten at the weekend, but it clearly is something that has given the horse enough of an issue to possibly miss Cheltenham altogether. I thought he ran a fair enough race at the weekend without really going through with his effort, and if he was feeling this infection then that could help explain the race, however I would also say that SDC jumped a good deal better and that could also be the reason behind the turnaround. I think the same can also be said for connections of Puffin Billy, at least they have told us that they have an issue and possibly a reason for running poorly. Its better to be told and to look with sceptism, than go down the old Binocular route once more
I think that the information given out by the trainers, and connections for that matter, has got better and better over the years. I agree with what Oddy is saying that there are many of us who try to read into a headline for something that for the majority of the times isnt there. I think Casey has said all we need to know about Flemenstar for this year and of course its a big disappointment, but what more can the bloke do or say...
So you lot can't believe there's credence to the theory that these two horses have just been beaten fair and square and connections are now looking for excuses? Wouldn't you try to protect your investment and resale value? I would.
My first priority would be the well being of the horses and if I thought they didn't seem themselves, however minor, I would have them checked out. If something was found to be wrong I would put them away and ensure they had the right treatment. Whether I informed the general public/press would depend on how important it was for them to know.
Indeed it is, old boy. Although in that instance, of course, we then saw the training performance of our age as Mr Henderson restored via a minor miracle that only his ‘magic hands’ are capable of Binocular to his full health and subsequently an unbelievable performance followed. Doubt the same will happen with Fleminstar though as Peter Casey is no Mr Henderson.
We're not in the flat world here Bob, where stud value must be protected at all costs and excuses are permanently sought to protect a horse's reputation. I can't believe the respective owners would be looking to sell their animals anyway (couldn't think of a reason they would want to, and couldn't really think of a buyer except possibly JP McManus for Flemenstar, doubt he would be interested in PB given all the good novices he has). I think resale value is probably not anywhere near the top of the agenda. I think the media hype has not helped with Flemenstar's connections. Every time we see a brilliant Irish novice chaser he immediately becomes next season's Gold Cup horse and the weight of expectation is difficult to live with. This has never been truer than with Flemenstar.
SBC I hear Casey is in deep talks with Hendersons vet after reading this article http://www.racingpost.com/horses/tr...ories&bottomTrainerTabs=trainer_big_race_wins
