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Slattery's Fleur off the mark over fences

Fleur In The Park  Fleur In The Park
© Healy Racing Photos

The fall of Telecon four from home led to the Racingtv.com Free Month Trial Beginners Chase at Wexford developing into a match between the 11/10 joint-favourites Tullyhill #160;and Fleur In The Park

The latter, ridden by Cian Quirke, jumped past Tullyhill two out and went away to post a comfortable eight-length victory over his market  rival.

Trainer Andy Slattery said of Padraig and Margaret O'Rourke's six-year-old: "He was only about 80% fit in Gowran (second on chase debut). He wasn't ready there. He cantered down to the third-last and just blew up. We knew he'd improved a lot. 

"Henry de Bromhead (trains Gowran winner Taponthego) said to me that he is a two-miler and he could be right. He could be just a two-mile chaser as he jumps so well. To get over a beginners chase in Ireland is a hard thing. The runner-up is rated145. 

"We could go travelling with him. Somewhere like Ascot, where there is a lot of jumping. We won't run him for a month anyway. I didn't want to tempt faith and make a plan before today.  

"We always thought he'd be better over fences and hopefully he will be. He used to jump hurdles too big.  

"I was actually not going to run him today because of the ground. I was going to run him in a Grade 3 at Cork on Sunday over two-and-a-half. They are probably as easy to win as a beginners chase.  

"We'll make a plan now after this and it's nice to have him."

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy

About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.