High Chaparral eases back into action

High Chaparral took a step along the comeback trail when he did a piece of light work after racing at the Curragh today.

Last season’s English and Irish Derby winner was ridden by Michael Kinane as he went a mile with an unraced lead horse.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien expressed himself satisfied, and said: “It was only a light canter, nothing of any significance.

“The idea was to get him away, and hopefully we can now aim him at a little prep race next month.

“It will be six to eight weeks before he would run in any major race anywhere.”

The four-year-old sustained a bruised shoulder muscle in April and was ruled out of his intended midsummer targets.

He has not run since winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Arlington last October.