Sruthan ‘likely to improve for the run’

Trainer Paul Deegan has warned Sruthan is likely to improve for the run as he makes his first appearance since May in the Invesco Pension Consultants Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown tonight.

Having signed off his 2013 campaign with a first Pattern victory in the Concorde Stakes at Tipperary, he struck again at Group Three level upon his return to action in the Gladness Stakes at the Curragh in April.

However, Sruthan disappointed on his Group One debut in the Lockinge at Newbury and makes his first appearance since then.

Deegan said: “We’re looking forward to getting him back on the track, he’s in good form and the ground is right. It’s his first run back, he’s ready to start, but you would expect him to come on a bit for the race.

“The ground went against him in Newbury, he wasn’t right afterwards and it’s taken a while for us to get him back, but hopefully we’re back on the right road now. He’s a nice holiday, he’s nice and fresh and hopefully he’ll have a good end to the year.

“After the Desmond there’s the Boomerang Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend and then the Concorde Stakes in Tipperary he won last year, so if he could win one of the three we’d be delighted.”

Sabrina Harty has declared last month’s impressive Minstrel Stakes winner Ansgar, but could yet decide against letting him run if conditions deteriorate.

Harty said: “He really doesn’t want the ground any worse than good to yielding, so I’m hoping they don’t get any more rain. If it does go too soft for him, he won’t run.

“Seven furlongs on good ground is his optimum. It’s a mile on softer ground and he doesn’t have a good draw (stall 10), so there’s plenty against us, but there aren’t many races for him.

“We have him in at Doncaster (Park Stakes) next month and he’s entered on Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown, but we’d like to run him tomorrow first if we can, so we’ll see what happens.”

Ansgar and Sruthan have to concede weight to the rest of their opponents in a 10-strong field.

Aidan O’Brien saddles Great White Eagle and Palace, while John Oxx has Qewy and Harasiya in contention.

The Ger Lyons-trained Brendan Brackan, Jim Bolger’s Leitir Mor, Tommy Stack’s Alive Alive Oh and David O’Meara’s British raider Custom Cut complete the line-up.