John Durkan Memorial

top class

this conditions with this one , would be a good chance to test Sprinter Sacre

what a joy to watch to see this pair jumping fences
 
Peter Casey: "“We’ll have to see how he comes out of this race first. He’ll be entered for the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase as well as the Lexus. I don’t want to get to the bottom of him at this stage and, if we feel its best for the horse, he could go for the two-mile race at Christmas.

“The Gold Cup is still the plan long term.”
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granger said:
Generous after his Aintree showing
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Don't worry about that run.

On Flemenstar, I think he is absolutely top notch over 2m4f on soft ground. But he will not be given an easy time of it in front in the Gold Cup. Not for me.
 
I'm saure he'll win a decent grade one somewhere.
Agree with Cantoris on Flemenstar. Obviously not a GC horse.
 
Remember Tied Cottage.
In his time other than winning in Sun Alliance he had primarily 2m 4f form yet showed how GC can be a front runners race.
Caseys interview was revealing in how the horse has matured since last year when he could not travel whereas now he is more laid back and is better able to settle in his races.
Add to that how he is so clever at his fences, long or short and gets away quickly from them. SDC for his first run ran well and there will be more to come with larger fields and hopefully better ground.
 
Well he's a lovely horse and I'd love to see him clash with Sprinter Sacre one day, but I think its unlikely he'll win the GC, though obviously wouldn't put anoyone off. Doesn't really matter what I think.
 
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Your as entitled to your opinion as anyone Marble, I just don't see how it's obvious he isn't a GC horse. Kicking King won a JD inferior to this one and went on to reign supreme in March.

If Flemenstar has learned to settle (AL said he was switched off for most of today) it is something that needs to be taken on board
 
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Didnt Kicking King have Beef or Salmon behind him in the John Durkan. Even now, I dont think Kicking King truly stayed the Gold Cup trip. Class got him home in an very ordinary year.

I dont know how people are rating the race highly or not. Thought Russell was never comfortable on the second - in stark stark contrast to how he could have been called the winner of the Jewson a mile from home - and looked to be a horse in need of the outing.
 
granger said:
Your as entitled to your opinion as anyone Marble, I just don't see how it's obvious he isn't a GC horse. Kicking King won a JD inferior to this one and went on to reign supreme in March.

If Flemenstar has learned to settle (AL said he was switched off for most of today) it is something that needs to be taken on board
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Yeah well I'd certainly like to see him stay the GC trip, I wouldn't wish anything different, it'll be some spectacle to see if he can. Though at this early stage until we see him over further the odds are against it happening.
 
Given the lack of form evidence you'd have to look at his pedigree for clues on staying the trip.

Flemenstar's older full brother Barafundle is a decent staying hurdler with form over 24f whilst his other two siblings have form around 20f without being much good. His sire Flemensfirth's best horses are Imperial Commander, Tidal bay and Pandorama, all of whom are proper stayers so you would like to think 3m would be within his compass. His damsire Beau Sher has sired some decent 20f chasers like Rathgar Beau but is not necessarily a stallion that contributes a lot of stamina.

I don't think 3m will be a problem for Flemenstar but comparisons with Kicking King don't work for me. That horse was way more relaxed than Flemenstar and his headstrong nature would be a worry. If he can learn to settle and it comes up good to soft on the day I think he'll be bang there at the bottom of the hill; whether he gets up it is debatable. Either way he's an exciting horse.

I thought Sir Des Champs ran a good race and just got done for toe. He would be just as likely winner for me as he will settle, see out the trip and has course form, which is always important.

I'd like to see Flemenstar against Sprinter Sacre in the Melling as I think SS would be vulnerable over further.
 
A very impressive performance from Flemenstar and what an intelligent head and fabulous ears he has .
 
My first thoughts were not the Gold Cup but how great it would be to see Sprinter Sacre V Flemenstar.

I'm as big a fan of Sprinter Sacre as you will find but this Flemenstar is an absolute star in his own right.

I did say beforehand that I thought SDC was not a future star that he had been brilliantly placed by WM to win the races he won but he's still a bloody good horse who couldn't get near Flemenstar and it looked over 7 fences from home to my eyes.

If these 2 keep going the way they are going we could be in for the biggest thing since the Arkle V Mill house clash hopefully in the King George next year or the year after.

I am convinced the Moulds who are very sporting people will not be happy to watch Sprinter beating what's left of the 2 mile division over and over again. Mr Mould said in an interview last season that a step up in trip was a distinct possibility and I reckon they would love to at least try and get 3 miles and win a King George with him and if none of Nicky's win it this year he may well get stepped up sooner than later.

I really hope so as these 2 going head to head would be fantastic to watch
 
Tanlic said:
My first thoughts were not the Gold Cup but how great it would be to see Sprinter Sacre V Flemenstar.

I'm as big a fan of Sprinter Sacre as you will find but this Flemenstar is an absolute star in his own right.

I did say beforehand that I thought SDC was not a future star that he had been brilliantly placed by WM to win the races he won but he's still a bloody good horse who couldn't get near Flemenstar and it looked over 7 fences from home to my eyes.

If these 2 keep going the way they are going we could be in for the biggest thing since the Arkle V Mill house clash hopefully in the King George next year or the year after.

I am convinced the Moulds who are very sporting people will not be happy to watch Sprinter beating what's left of the 2 mile division over and over again. Mr Mould said in an interview last season that a step up in trip was a distinct possibility and I reckon they would love to at least try and get 3 miles and win a King George with him and if none of Nicky's win it this year he may well get stepped up sooner than later.

I really hope so as these 2 going head to head would be fantastic to watch
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I really don't fancy SS over 3 miles.
 
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