Life In The Park

(Henry de Bromhead)

Cheltenham, March 14th

Henry de Bromhead had another fine Cheltenham Festival and while his couple of winners take the main plaudits, a lot of his beaten horses deserve some extra credit. Life In The Park was one of them - a fine example of how de Bromhead goes to another level at the Festival. He was beaten 65 lengths by Meetingofthewaters in the Paddy Power but turned up here 78 days later to produce a career best in the Plate, when beaten just under three lengths by Shakem Up’Arry. He got outpaced down the hill and looked in trouble turning for home, only to come up the hill very strongly, doing all his best work at the finish in a race that was dominated again by course specialists. The Barry Maloney-owned gelding has always promised much and perhaps could benefit now going back up in trip to three miles, at Aintree or Punchestown.

Casanova

(Ado McGuinness)

Curragh, March 18th

The market largely got the Irish Lincoln right with Chazzesmee (first) and Raadobarg (third) well backed in the late show, while Smooth Tom (second), San Aer (sixth) and Green Sky (eighth) all likely benefitted from race fitness having raced over hurdles through the winter. For that reason, Casanova deserves a good mention for finishing fourth and easily faring the best out of the Ado McGuinness contingent.

He raced on the far side, took it up after the two-furlong pole and only got swamped inside the final furlong. This was another good effort from him in this contest, having finished a close third last season, but on that occasion he had the benefit of a pipe opener run at Dundalk. He was 12lb lower for the race this time which is obviously significant, but he was also running here on seasonal debut, so there is scope for him to kick on again now. The key to him seems to be soft or heavy ground over a mile - his other big performance last season came when fourth in the Galway Mile, and all those big races will be open to him again. He could be dangerous off his current mark.

Earls

(Gavin Cromwell)

Curragh, March 18th

For reasons outlined above, Earls also deserves to go into the notebook for his effort to finish fifth on his seasonal debut in the Irish Lincoln. Gavin Cromwell’s gelding was last at the halfway stage but came through strongly from that most unpromising position and was closing in on Casanova at the line. This was a pleasing start for him and surely connections will be eyeing up a title defence in the seven-furlong Mallow Handicap, a valuable premier handicap at the beginning of May. He is currently on the same mark off which he won that contest last season.

Chicago Storm

(Chris Timmons)

Curragh, March 18th

Chicago Storm did well to keep going to finish fifth in the one-mile handicap won by Global Energy at the Curragh on Monday. On his second run for Chris Timmons, the five-year-old did very well to stay going in a race in which the sectionals suggest it was advantageous to be ridden off the pace.

He did okay at a low level for Peter Fahey last season and is now 10lb lower than he was at this stage last season, so he has been given a chance by the handicapper and he should have plenty of opportunities to make a mark in the next month or so. (declared tomorrow at Naas)

Pinot Gris

(Gavin Cromwell)

Cork, March 21st

Pinot Gris caught the eye with the way he finished off his race in the extended two-mile maiden hurdle won by Immutable at Cork on Thursday. Gavin Cromwell’s gelding jumped sketchy in the early stages but he was in contention going into the race and wasn’t knocked about once the front two got away from him.

He was really progressive on the flat last year, getting up to a mark of 83 and now he qualifies for a mark over hurdles. He is versatile ground wise and will certainly be interesting on his handicap hurdle debut, and given he is a winner over a mile and five furlongs on the flat, he has options to go out in trip as well.