Bowe targets Limerick for in-form Coolcashin

RACING NEWS:COOLCASHIN WILL bid to make it three wins from his last four starts over fences when he reappears at the four-day Guinness Christmas Festival at Limerick.

The eight-year-old, owned and bred by trainer Michael Bowe, posted his two wins at Thurles this campaign and was short-headed by Aranleigh at Punchestown in between.

“I’ll find something for him over Christmas. He’ll probably go to Limerick for a chase over two miles three,” said the Co Kilkenny trainer. “He’s a nice horse and hopefully he’ll continue to do well.

“He’s better going right-handed than left-handed as he jumps better that way. He had a tiny fracture in his fetlock joint his near (left) near fore, so he’s better going right-handed.

“He suffered the break in his novice hurdle days and he had two screws put in it. The horse is good, so hopefully he’ll do well over Christmas.”

Binocular remains on course for the William Hill Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, despite no excuse coming to light for his odds-on flop in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.

Nicky Henderson’s charge took the place of stablemate Punjabi in the Newcastle event and after finishing third in the Champion Hurdle itself and heading the ante-post markets for the same race, was expected to win.

However, he could only trail home fifth, with Henderson refusing to blame the slow pace of the race.

“The day after Newcastle he was very lethargic and he was like that for three or four days, but we couldn’t find anything,” said Henderson. “It was an oddly run race but it was still a disappointing performance and it wasn’t what we were expecting.

“About Thursday or Friday last week he perked up and I think we’ve just got to put that one down in the mystery column, there is nothing physically wrong with him. The plan was Newcastle and then Kempton, so I think we’ll stick to the plan,” he said.

Paul Nicholls reports Herecomesthetruth to be in fine shape since beating Forpadydeplasterer at Down Royal a month ago, but he is another trainer concerned about the 10lb penalty his horse has to carry.

“We’re well happy with him and this has been the target since he won the last day but he’s got plenty to do at the weights, I think,” said the Ditcheat handler. “His form’s good and he’s in good order.”