Ground blamed for Flagship run

Former champion chaser Flagship Uberalles will be out again early in 2005 despite managing only fifth in the O’Connell Warehousing Hilly Way Chase at Cork yesterday.

The 10-year-old was beaten 22 lengths in the Grade Two contest but connections felt the ground, officially soft, contributed to his below-par effort.

“He didn’t run too badly at all really,” Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, said today.

“The ground was quite tacky and it was a real well-run race. He was well-beaten and he made a mistake or two, but he didn’t run that badly.

“He wants real good ground and I wouldn’t be too disappointed. He’ll have another run in the New Year and we’ll see how we get on.”

The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding, three times a winner of the Tingle Creek Trophy and victorious at the Festival in 2002, is without a success since landing the Grade One BMW Chase at Punchestown in April last year.