Viking Flagship

Viking Flagship (1987–2000) was an Irish racehorse who began his racing career in October 1989 as 2 year old. He was first trained by his breeder Eithne C Holdsworth in Co. Kilkenny and then by Martin Pipe He had 18 starts in Ireland with these two trainers, all in Ireland, but was unable to win any of them.

Season 1990-1991

In December 1990, his trainer then sent him over hurdles and on his hurdling debut Viking Flagship fell at Wolverhampton, He did however improve on that on his next start where he finished head 2nd Newton Abbot, before going on to complete a four timer in Novice Hurdles between February and April 1991. After this, he changed yards and joined new trainer, W M Halley, for whom he had his first start at Punchestown in April 1991, where he finished 6th. That proved to be his only start under the trainer, as he changed yards again in the summer, joining David Nicholson.

Season 1991-1992

He began the season finishing down the field in a Handicap Hurlde at Newton Abbot and followed that up with 4th placed finished in his next 2 starts. After winning a Taunton Handicap on his next start, Viking Flagship went on to contest some valuable handicaps for the remainder of the season. He performed with credit, finishing placed in the Imperial Cup, County Handicap Hurdle and the Cordon Bleu Handicap at Aintree on his final start of the season.

Season 1992-1993

Viking Flagship embarked on a novice chasing campaign and did not reappear until February 1993, where he fell on his first start over fences at the beginning of February. However, he bounced straight back from that and went on to complete an impressive hat-trick over fences between the 8th and 25 February. He followed that up with 2 wins within 3 days at the Punchestown Festival.

Season 1993-1994

He began with two second-place finishes in Handicaps, before he won the Victor Chandler Chase in January and the Game Spirit Chase in February. That was followed with a neck victory in the prestigious Queen Mother Champion Chase. On his final start that season, Viking Flagship finished an 11-length second to Uncle Ernie in the Martell Aintree Chase.

Season 1994-1995

He made his seasonal debut in the Tingle Creek Chase, where he was an impressive 3-1/2-length winner, before winning the Castleford Chase later that month. He then disappointed in his next three starts, finishing 5th in the Victor Chandler Chase, falling in the Game Spirit Chase and finishing 2nd in the Emblem Chase at Kempton, where he only failed by a length when giving away a stone in weight. He then went back to Cheltenham, where he was sent off the 5/2 favourote for the Queen Mother Champion Chase and justified that with 5 length victory over Deep Sensation. He ended the season on another high note at Aintree, where he won the Melling Chase at the same price.

Season 1995-1996

He was very poor on his seasonal debut where he finished a distant 4th in the Tingle Creek Chase. After finishing a 15 length third in the John Bull Chase in his next start, Viking Flagship went on to win the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury and the Emblem Chase at Kempton. He returned to Cheltenham for his next start, where he finished 2nd in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, before winning the Melling Chase again.

Season 1996-1997

The season only brought one success for Viking Flagship in the Emblem Chase, but he ran well to be placed in both the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Melling Chase.

Season 1997-1998

The season proved to be the final season of his racing career. He began in style when he beat Mulligan by 5 lengths in the Haldon Gold Cup. He then went back to Sandown for the Tingle Creek Chase, where he went down by just a head to Ask Tom. After winning the Castleford Chase again, Viking Flagship went on to finish 3rd and 5th respectively in the Game Spirit Chase and the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Viking Flagship died in 2000.

References