Horses to Watch

In The High Grass (6yo, TJ Taaffe) – Despite flopping as a 1/2f last time at Clonmel, In The High Grass remains of considerable interest in 2m handicap chases on right-handed tracks. His recent defeat can be put down to a pair of factors – he may not have seen out the 2m4f trip, and/or he may have found the race coming too soon after his impressive Gowran Park win just 3 days previous. The form of that event looks rock-solid, with the useful yardstick On The Net comprehensively out-pointed in second, and decent rivals like Old Flame and Don’t Be Bitin in behind. This was the first time In The High Grass has had his ideal conditions since winning at Clonmel in November (beating Alexander Taipan by 8ls, who would have won the Gr.1 Novice Chase on Hennessy Day if standing up) and he took full advantage. All 4 of his wins have come on right-handed tracks, and given that he has flopped on a number of occasions when going the other way round, and a tendency to jump to right at Leopardstown over Christmas, the ideal race for him looks the Dan Moore Memorial Chase over 2m at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting. He has taken a 10lb hike in the ratings to 132, but that looks far from prohibitive, and with the top-weight in that event last year running off 141 he is likely to get in off a fair weight. Couple this with the fact that he met with a readily excusable defeat last time, and he has to be of significant interest.

Davorin (6yo, RP Burns) – Ran a very encouraging eighth in the Irish Lincoln (beaten 11 ½ls by Deauville Vision) over a trip to short for him. Trainer Robbie Burns reported beforehand: "We're putting blinkers on to try and sharpen him. We're looking at running him over hurdles at Aintree and maybe Punchestown, so we're just hoping for a good run over a trip which will probably be a bit short for him." From 4 starts over hurdles this winter, he has won twice (once courtesy of a disqualified winner) on ground that is far too soft for him – all his decent flat form is on genuine good ground and significant improvement can be expected back on a similar surface. His form on the flat is solid – last year he chased home Crossing (runner-up in valuable handicap NTO) and Rockhall Blizzard (listed winner NTO) at the Curragh) – and has other form tying him in with the likes of Essex. He is a big scopey sort who was originally bought as a hurdler but was so good on the flat they kept him there (he improved from 77 to a career high of 93 since arriving from England). A mark of 116 over hurdles does not look overly harsh and he should be able to go close in a handicap at one of the spring festivals. The trainer’s only runner in England lately was a horse called Boleyknowsbest in the 2m handicap hurdle at Aintree – he finished an honourable sixth as a 33/1 outsider and that race looks a good target for Davorin.