Gladness target for Sruthan Sruthan is likely to kick off his new campaign in the Big Bad Bob Gladness Stakes at the Curragh on April 13. Paul Deegan's four-year-old won three times from six starts last season, striking in Listed company at the Curragh and signing off with a career-best effort when claiming the Group Three Concorde Stakes at Tipperary. Deegan said: "He's in good form and working away nicely and I think we'll probably start him off in the Gladness next month. "He won a Listed race and a Group Three last year, so he has the form in the book. He's quite a tall horse and we always thought this would be his year, so let's hope we're proved right." Sruthan ran probably his most disappointing race of the season when stepped up beyond a mile in the 10-furlong Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh last May, but Deegan remains keen to have another crack at the distance at some stage this year. He said: "We'll stick to a mile for now, but I do think a mile and a quarter will be within his compass in time. "He didn't run well when we stepped him up in trip last year, but he was a bit uptight on the day and was having a bit of trouble in the stalls at the time. "He seems a lot more settled this year and his work is very consistent. We're hoping it will be a big year for him."
