The Peter Casey-trained Flemenstar© Photo Healy Racing
Peter Casey is confident ground conditions will not hinder Flemenstar as he bids to sign off a superb season with victory in Sunday's Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.
Since being beaten by Bog Warrior on his chasing debut at Navan in mid-November, Flemenstar has notched four consecutive victories including a Grade 1 at Leopardstown without being seriously troubled.
Casey admits his pride and joy will encounter faster conditions than he has so far this season when he lines up at the weekend, but after walking the course himself, he believes it will not be an issue.
"He's all ready to go. I went to look at the ground the other day and they've done a great job with it," said the trainer.
"They've been watering, obviously, but it's lovely safe ground. It will be the quickest our horse has run on this season, but I'm sure he'll be all right. We want to find out how he handles better ground.
"This has been his main objective all season, so hopefully everything goes according to plan. If all does go well, this will be his last run of the season and we'll put him out in the field for the summer.
"I did enter him in a couple of races at Punchestown, but the only way he'd be going there was if something went wrong on Sunday."
The Dessie Hughes-trained White Star Line ran a fine race in defeat at last month's Cheltenham Festival, finding only massive improver Hunt Ball too strong in a novices' handicap chase.
The trainer said: "He ran well in Cheltenham and at least we know he handles the ground all right. He's one of the lowest-rated horses in the race, but the ground could make a difference to the result. That's what we're hoping anyway.
"Flemenstar is obviously unproven on the ground but if he handles it all right, I'd say he's going to be very hard to beat."
