The Very Man

(Jessica Harrington)

Punchestown, April 29th

The Very Man put up a brave effort in defeat when finding only the very well treated Seddon too good in the Grade B Fitzwilliam Sports Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown last Saturday. He might have benefitted from being up with the pace, but he sustained his effort well and it was a second good run in a row, having finished third to the unexposed and talented L’yser at Cork over Easter. He’s bang in form now and connections will not be short of options for him over the summer, particularly off a mark of 84 on the flat, a sphere in which he has only had four runs.

Snowcapped

(Jessica Harrington)

The Curragh, May 1st

Snowcapped’s winning performance won’t be lost on many but she was very impressive in winning a seven-furlong handicap off a mark of 75 at the Curragh on Monday. They went hard in this race, which her trainer feels may have played into her hands, but she was actually the only one to get into the race from the rear. There was so much to like about the way she collared Lovejoy and went further clear inside the final furlong, and this was just her third ever start. She is out of a half sister to Snow Fairy, and could be a lot smarter than a handicapper, though could easily take in a nice prize before aiming for blacktype. She will have good options on Irish Guineas weekend.

Coumshingaun

(Kevin Coleman)

The Curragh, May 1st

Trainer Kevin Coleman might well have been scratching his head after watching Coumshingaun run in a six-furlong handicap at the Curragh on Monday. He saw his filly travel much the best at the two-furlong pole and she came to win her race for rider Calvin Ngcobo inside the final furlong but in the end didn’t even make the frame as a blanket finish enveloped. In hindsight, she could have done with a bit more cover to take her into this race. Nevertheless, it was easily her best run of the season and a mark of 75 looks very workable now. She was a progressive filly last year, winning twice, including off a mark of 81.

White Caviar

(Joseph O’Brien)

Gowran Park, May 3rd

Joseph O’Brien is making hay with his older fillies this season and he will likely have been delighted with the run of White Caviar when she got up late on to secure blacktype in the Vintage Tipple at Gowran on Wednesday evening. That is a large box ticked for connections but the daughter of Australia looks capable of going better again this season. She never got near the winner Final Gesture, but she was racing from the rear of the field, and came from a most unpromising position in the straight. This was just her fifth career start, her seasonal debut and her first run over a mile and six furlongs, so she has bundles of scope to improve further.