Sizing Europe and Andrew Lynch on the way to victory in the Champion Chase 12 months ago from Barry Geraghty and Big Zeb.

Lynch in good form ahead of Cheltenham Festival

Ashbourne jockey Andrew Lynch received the perfect boost ahead of some big race rides at Cheltenham this week when he was on the mark at Naas on Sunday in the grade three novice chase with the Peter Casey-trained Flemenstar. Owned by Dunsany man Stephen Curran, Flemenstar was making it four wins in-a-row and five in all for Lynch in what turned out to be a high class three-runner contest. Lynch took up the running at the seventh fence and despite not liking the sticky ground, kept up a strong pace to win by over five lengths. Fairyhouse at Easter remains the target for Flemenstar which will be aimed at the Powers Gold Cup with Cheltenham a likely long-term target for 2013 if everything goes well for the lightly-raced seven-year-old. Another local jockey, Ger Fox, made a good start to Cheltenham week at the traditional Stratford meeting on Monday when winning a novices handicap chase with the Oliver Brady-trained Imperial Shabra. The Monaghan-trained eight-year-old was starting for the 22nd time over fences and hit the front on the run to the last fence. The popular trainer was uanble to attend due to illness, but assistant-trainer Anthony McCann indicated that the winner could re-appear at Cheltenham on Thursday in the Jewson novice chase. Kilmessan jockey Jason Maguire, who will be on some fancied runners at Cheltenham this week including Peddler's Cross in the Jewson, was also on the mark in a selling hurdle at Stratford. After the opening day's action at Cheltenham, the focus of attention for the second day will be the Champion Chase in which Lynch will partner Sizing Europe for trainer Henry de Bromhead. Sizing Europe is expected to repeat his win of 12 months ago when he defeated the previous year's winner Big Zeb and the duo will clash again.