Flyer set for Kempton

RACING: Punchestown report: Moscow Flyer might have fluffed some of his jumping lines in the past but the star chaser gave a flawless performance to light up the opening of the Punchestown festival yesterday.At Punchestown

On a day when Brave Inca announced himself as a Champion Hurdle contender with a thrilling victory in the novice highlight, Moscow Flyer still managed to grab centre stage.

As a 4 to 11 favourite the Jessica Harrington-trained horse did little more than expected in beating Rathgar Beau by a couple of lengths but yet again the style was immense and there was also the tantalising prospect of a fresh challenge to look forward to.

Harrington nominated the King George VI Chase at Kempton next Christmas as a major target, a brave step considering only one of Moscow Flyer's 14 chase victories has come at two and a half miles. "He will be 11 next year and it will be a finding out exercise," she said. "It's great to be finding things out at 11 years of age!"

If Harrington might be slightly nervous about unleashing the former champion chaser over three miles, the bookmakers showed no such uncertainty.

Victor Chandler moved decisively to make Moscow Flyer a 7 to 2 favourite for Kempton and introduced an even more intriguing prospect by making him 12 to 1 "with a run" for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

"One step at a time," was the Harrington response to that but there is little doubt, Azertyuiop apart, Moscow Flyer is well on top of the two-mile game. A strong pace from Strong Run played into his hands from the start and a mistake from Native Upmanship at the fourth last eliminated that one's chance.

Typically Moscow Flyer idled in front and Rathgar Beau briefly threatened only to eventually be well held. "I was in front a bit early when Native Upmanship made his mistake but it was no bother to him. He had all the aces," reported Barry Geraghty.

"He's an amazing horse. In front he was almost too relaxed," Harrington added. "I suppose we will start off next season in the Fortria at Navan and then see about the three miles."

Any other day and Brave Inca would have dominated the headlines with his exhilarating success in the Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle. The six-year-added to his Cheltenham success but had to do it the hard way after looking only third best behind Royal Shakespeare and Royal Alphabet at the last.

Remarkably Brave Inca rallied under Barry Cash to just short head the English raider, Royal Shakespeare, and convince trainer Colm Murphy that the 2005 Champion Hurdle is now a realistic option.

"We will probably go down that route. We will certainly plan along Champion Hurdle lines," Murphy said. "He is so tough and mentally so laid back but my heart was definitely in my mouth!"

Cashmans left Brave Inca unchanged for the Champion Hurdle at 12 to 1 even though Murphy paid his star performer a notable compliment, saying: "All he does is eat and sleep. In many ways he's a perfect racehorse."

The English raiders made their first mark of the week when Lord Sam justified market support with a narrow defeat of Hi Cloy in the Ellier Novice Chase despite some sluggish jumping.

"He over-jumped at one of the early fences which frightened him a bit but he's a class horse," said trainer Victor Dartnell, who was having his first Punchestown winner with just his second runner.

"We have nowhere else to go now but the King George and the top races. He really needs three miles and he will have to go after the big boys now," he added.

Another trainer on the mark for the first time at the festival was Charlie Swan who ran four in the fillies champion bumper and won it with the Lenny Flynn ridden Missindependence.

Rowlands Dream ran third with Ballyguider Bridge fifth but Swan said: "Missindependence has been working very well but it was a difficult choice for Lenny. It was a good move from owner Seamus Mannion who paid just €2,200 for her."

Inse Bay slipped up in this race and brought down three others while the Tom Taaffe-trained Joys To The Future had to be put down after breaking a leg independently.

The festival opened with a 33 to 1 skinner for the bookies when Andrewjames won the Kildare Hunt Chase over the banks from the 7 to 4 favourite Takagi.

The 33 to 1 skinners weren't finished with as Supreme Being galloped on resolutely in the handicap hurdle to overhaul the topweight Strike Back.

Michael Cunningham's horse was fourth in the race two years previously but the trainer explained: "He has had tendon problems since. He was due to run at Fairyhouse but got cast in his box."

A mistake by Red Setter at the last in the Bishopscourt Cup did for favourite backers and it was the 2003 winner, Ever Onward, who gained most to win from Monsoon Man by a length.