Lachares seeking Easter pot The Grade Three chase may be feature event at Cork on Sunday, but the most valuable contest on the day is the €50,000 Easter Handicap Hurdle and the sizeable pot has attracted a quality field. Progressive juvenile Lachares has been pitched into the two-mile-three-furlong contest by connections on his handicap debut. The four-year-old made full use of the weight allowances he received when winning a Limerick novice hurdle in style at the end of last month and gets 10lb from his elders. A 9lb rise for his comfortable six-and-a-half length victory at Greenmount Park doesn't look harsh considering the field he beat then. Trainer Ellmarie Holden has stated that she expects more improvement to come from her charge on better ground, so no doubt he will be fancied to continue a fine season for the Co Kilkenny handler. Pique Sous makes his first start over jumps since August 2013 when lining up in the race. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding has endured his share of troubles over the last few seasons but is a talented individual on his day. He has run three times on the Flat since returning in February and performed particularly well on the second of those outings when third at Chelmsford. The handicapper has only dropped him 3lb since he was pulled up in the Galway Hurdle and it will be interesting to see how he fares back over timber. Gordon Elliott supplies the two at the top of the weights in Jeannot De Nonant and Carrig Cathal. Jeannot De Nonant ran well when third last time at Limerick and Conor Brassil takes a useful 5lb off his back. Jack Kennedy sticks with Carrig Cathal, who has been placed in a couple of decent handicaps this term and he races off a 3lb higher mark than when runner-up at Navan last month. Elliott appears to have a few good chances on the card and Fire In His Eyes looks a nice prospect making his chasing debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase. The Stowaway gelding won twice over hurdles last October and November and has long been described as a big, chasing type by his trainer. He carries the Gigginstown colours, as does Burren Life in the concluding bumper. Connections will be hoping he can get his head in front now after four placed efforts in similar contests this season.
