Deegan aiming for big things with Sruthan

Paul Deegan is hoping for a big season from Sruthan as he returns to action in the Group Three Big Bad Bob Gladness Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.

The Arakan gelding started last year in flying form with two victories, including in Listed company over course and distance.

He disappointed in a couple of subsequent runs but bounced back to winning ways in a competitive Group Three Concorde Stakes at Tipperary on his final outing.

"We always thought he'd be better again this year and he's done very well over the winter. He's coming along nicely and is ready to start," said the County Kildare handler.

"It was soft ground when he won the Concorde. We never really thought of him as a soft-ground horse but he seemed to handle it.

"We were always hoping to start him back in this race. He has come together nicely and it has fallen right. We haven't had to rush him and we're looking forward to getting him started. He has a couple of big entries. He's in a Group Two in France and in the Lockinge. It's going to be a long season and we're hoping for a really big year with him."

Custom Cut sprang a 25-1 shock in the race last year but proved that was no fluke with a solid campaign in stakes company.

He made his first start for Yorkshire-based trainer David O'Meara at Doncaster just over two weeks ago and makes the trip back to Ireland in a bid for a repeat victory.

O'Meara said: "He seems to be in good order. He ran well at Doncaster a couple of weeks ago when he was only beaten a length in third. He has a penalty to carry for winning the race last year but he's in good form."

The Tommy Stack-trained Wannabe Better bids for redemption after she was well held when sent off favourite for the Group Three Park Express Stakes over a mile at the Curragh last month.

Fozzy Stack, assistant to his father, said: "Hopefully the ground isn't too bad. The ground probably beat her the last day so hopefully it's slightly better as she wouldn't want it too bad. She gets a mile really well but she walked home the last furlong last time."

Aidan O'Brien saddles the talented Cristoforo Colombo in the seven-furlong contest, while Charles O'Brien runs Pop Art, who ran well in Listed company at Leopardstown 11 days ago.