Mr Flowers goes out in a blaze of glory

VETERAN chaser Mr Flowers ended his career in a blaze of glory when landing the €25,000 Daily Mirror Handicap Chase at Down Royal yesterday.

The fourteen-year-old has been trained throughout his career by Suzy Barkley, who is now based in nearby Donaghcloney, and was recording his fourth success.

The long story of Mr Flowers' career ended on a fitting high when he fought off the attentions of Bravery to triumph by three lengths, prompting his trainer to comment: “I've had him since the start. I broke him and have trained him all the time and he has been a great servant. In some ways, he has been unlucky. But he's been an odd horse all his life.”