AIDAN Howard is developing a nice little niche job for himself. Following his exploits with Winter Escape for owner J.P. McManus last season, the Curragh-based trainer scored at the first time of asking with another McManus British cast-off, the once very exciting Charli Parcs, in a conditions contest at Leopardstown yesterday.

There wasn’t much pace in the two-mile race and there weren’t as many hurdles to jump as there should have been due to the low-lying sun, but Charli Parcs was impressive. He travelled lovely, cruised up to Jetz in the straight and then went away from that useful rival with the minimum of fuss, the pair of them pulling well clear.