Punchestown 'more than likely' for Flemenstar Flemenstar could bid to back up his dramatic Grade One success at Leopardstown over Christmas in the Boylesports Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown on January 31. The 11-year-old, who has been plagued by leg trouble, showed he was no back number when getting up on the run-in to deny Simply Ned in the Paddy Power 'So Quick, So Easy iPhone App' Chase after the fall of leader and odds-on favourite Un De Sceaux at the second-last had thrown the race wide open. It was a first winner for Tony Curran, son of owner Stephen Curran, since he took out a licence in the summer to handle Flemenstar, who was formerly trained by Tony Martin and Peter Casey. While Curran is leaning towards the Tied Cottage, he does have an alternative race, the Red Mills Chase at Gowran on February 13. "It will more than likely be Punchestown but there's the Red Mills, too," Curran told the Irish Times. The trainer all but ruled out a trip to the Cheltenham Festival in March, saying: "The ground won't be soft enough there." Should Flemenstar go to Punchestown there is a possibility he could renew rivalry with Un De Sceaux, though his trainer Willie Mullins could send his charge to Ascot for the Sodexo Clarence House on January 23.
