DUBLIN FLYER, grounded by the greasy surface at Cheltenham last time, stayed on his feet to land a fourth Peterborough Chase for trainer Tim Forster at Huntingdon yesterday.
Slipping over on the bend with three fences to jump when leading the Murphy's Gold Cup 10 days ago, he earned consolation with the 18 length defeat of Gales Cavalier.
The 10-year-old started the 4 to 9 favourite because he was receiving 9lb from the runner-up but his victory was not achieved that easily as Dublin Flyer struggled round the right-handed turns.
As a result a tilt at the Pertemps King George VI Chase at right-handed Kempton was ruled out by Forster and an alternative Christmas target could be sought.
Dublin Flyer likes to front-run but Gales Cavalier led him for much of the way. Only when jockey Brendan Powell stoked him up approaching the second last fence did he take the lead only to hit that obstacle and then blunder through the last, which the jockey did well to survive.
"I take no pleasure in watching a race like that," complained Forster. "He does not like going right-handed and never has done. When he won a novice hurdle here he hit the rail coming up the straight.
"He is not the same horse in any shape or form on a right-handed track and he won't run in the King George."
Picking the next target for Dublin Flyer will not be easy but challenges for both the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National are not being ruled out.
Connections have so far resisted the Aintree marathon, despite a previous victory in the John Hughes Chase over the National fences.
But owner John Sumner said: "I've been against the National up to now. But the races are three weeks apart this time, Dublin Flyer is not getting any younger and the race is not the lottery it used to be.
"His chances of running in the King George have receded. The Tripleprint Gold Cup in a fortnight is a bit quick but we could possibly consider a race like the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby."
Forster completed a double when Teinein eased to a comfortable success in the Tote Handicap Hurdle under Tony McCoy, who drove to Huntingdon after riding in the first at Cheltenham.
But it was Simon McNeill, at 40 one of the senior citizens of the weighing room, who stole the riding honours with a 72 to 1 treble on Mr Flutts, Solo Gent and Gaye Fame.
