English raider to relish Curragh ground Tom Dascombe expects Anton Chigurh to relish the testing ground as he tackles Sunday's BetVictor Irish Lincolnshire at the Curragh. The premier handicap is one of the highlights of the opening day of the Flat season and 20 are set to go to post in the €100,000 event. Anton Chigurh is the sole British raider in the mile heat after winning three times last term, rounding off in a competitive event at Haydock in September. Dascombe had initially planned to run in the Lincoln at Doncaster but after failing to make the cut, he tackles this contest instead. "He's gone well on heavy ground before, he loves the soft ground so it should suit him," said Dascombe, whose Brown Panther finished third in the Irish St Leger at the Curragh. "He's fine, we're looking forward to running him and hopefully he will get there safely. "Doncaster would have been our first choice for various reasons, not least that the Irish handicapper has seen fit to rate him 1lb higher. He's not made it easy but we will give it a go." Ansaab finished a narrow second 12 months ago but will race from a 10lb higher mark this time. He was beaten just under three lengths by subsequent Listed winner Sharestan and trainer Kevin Prendergast acknowledges his task will be tougher off a rating of 93. "Ansaab is in good shape but it will be very heavy ground on Sunday," he said. "He ran on this sort of ground last year and finished second but he's gone up a fair bit for that. He's in good shape, though, and we hope he will run well." Dermot Weld's Tandem is an interesting contender after winning twice last term while Tommy Carmody fields two in former Lincoln winner Sweet Lightning and ex-Richard Hannon-trained runner Campanology. Willie Mullins' Dougal Philps and last year's fifth Hujaylea are also in the line-up.
