Punters found it hard to separate Flemenstar and Lambro in the betting for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase over two miles, with the latter just going off the 11/10 favourite over his market rival at 6/5.
As they turned into the straight it was the two market principles that had it between them and after an exciting finish Flemenstar kept on best to score by three and a half lengths for his trainer Peter Casey with Andrew Lynch (fourth winner since yesterday) aboard.
Having opened on track the 9/10 favourite, the winner drifted out to his starting price of 6/5 while the runner-up Lambro went from 11/8 into 11/10 favourite at the off with Ruby Walsh aboard for Willie Mullins.
The pair had a good battle from before the second last with Flemenstar only getting the upper hand on the run-in.
After finishing seven and a half lengths second to Bog Warrior on his chasing debut at Navan in November, the winning son of Flemensfirth went one place better on his next start at Navan easily winning his beginners chase by nineteen lengths.
Winning trainer Peter Casey said afterwards: "He will go to Leopardstown for the Arkle (Sunday, January 29th) now.
"He wants a bit further. The ground was desperate and he probably didn't like it. He did it well when it came down to it. He got under the last a bit.
“It’s grand to have a good one like him.”
