Flemenstar (Andrew Lynch) has ground to make up on Simply Ned after the last© Photo Healy Racing
Tony Curran saddled his first winner as Flemenstar turned the clock back to record a popular if somewhat unlikely 16/1 victory in the Paddy Power ‘So Quick, So Easy iPhone App’ Chase at Leopardstown.
It was a fourth Grade 1 win for the gelding, owned by the trainer’s father Stephen, and bridged a gap of over two years since his last success.
Un Des Sceaux was sent off the 1/4 favourite to make a winning seasonal reappearance, and adopted his customary front-running tactics under Ruby Walsh.
However the hot-pot never got away from his five rivals, and was about two lengths ahead when falling at the penultimate fence. Simply Ned led into the straight as Flemenstar was hampered by the faller, and the English challenger was about four lengths up before the last.
However he tired on the run-in, and Andrew Lynch drove Flemenstar past in the final 100 yards to score by a length, with Hidden Cyclone all of 20 lengths back in third.
There was some in-running carnage on the exchanges with Flemenstar hitting a high of 54/1 on Betfair, while Simply Ned was matched as low as 1/33.
Tony Curran said, "He was off for a year and did nothing but walking and trotting. It was a long road back and Danny Hand rides him out every day. I feel sorry for Keith Donoghue who would have ridden him but injured his eye recently.
"With Un De Sceaux in the race I knew they would go a good gallop and that suits him.
"I thought we might be held going to the last but I saw the other horse getting tired and I knew our fella was as fit as he was for a long time. He's all heart.
"I only took out the licence in the summer and that's my first winner. I've three riding out at the moment.
"He could run next at Punchestown at the end of January but he's very ground dependant. It will have to be soft wherever he runs."
Bookmaker reaction to the fall of Un De Sceaux was mixed with Paddy Power pushing him out to 7/4 (from 6/4) for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, while Boylesports (11/8) and Betfair (6/4) left him unchanged for the two-mile championship event at Cheltenham.
