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Flemenstar justifies the favourites tag with an impressive win in the Powers Gold Cup

Flemenstar easily obliged in the opening day highlight at Fairyhouse
Flemenstar easily obliged in the opening day highlight at Fairyhouse

Flemenstar oozed class as he destroyed the opposition in the Powers Gold Cup on the opening day of the Fairyhouse Easter meeting.

Peter Casey's seven-year-old was sent off the 11-10 favourite as he encountered quicker ground than he has all season, and Andrew Lynch had him jumping superbly in second behind the pace-setting Rathlin.

Flemenstar went to the front three out and put the race to bed with a devastating charge going to the second-last, after which he was always in command and was eased down to win by 11 lengths. 

Tony McCoy landed a double in the JP McManus colours highlighted by the impressive victory of 11-4 favourite Jenari in the Coolmore NH Sires Ask & Getaway Novice Hurdle.

McCoy moved up smoothly to engage long-time leaders Savello and Lord Windermere two out and Jessie Harrington's five-year-old strode clear to win by three and three-quarter lengths from the charging Bridgets Pet.

Earlier, McCoy slipped 9-4 favourite Simon Gray into the lead nearing the final flight in the Fairyhouse Vets Promoting Equine Health Maiden Hurdle and drove Dessie Hughes's charge out to score by three and a quarter lengths. Unfortunately, the winner broke down.

County Westmeath handler Dot Love picked up a big prize when Shadow Eile (11-2) landed the final of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship.

Andrew McNamara, who went on to a double, was content to play his hand late and the seven-year-old tackled Burn And Turn at the final flight before forging ahead and then holding the runner-up's renewed challenge by a neck.

Danny Howard hit the front going to the last in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle on Malachy Hassett's outsider Archie Meade (20-1), who held too much ammunition for gallant top-weight Jetson, winning by a length and three-quarters.

Hassett and Howard looked set for a spectacular double when Lough Donnell Mist shot clear in the Russell Restaurant Navan Novice Handicap Hurdle, but Barry Geraghty cut them down on Tom Cooper's Eightybarackstreet (16-1).

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