Winter Escape © Photo Healy Racing
Aidan Howard reports Winter Escape to have thrived since his recent comeback run and is considering the Ladbrokes Troytown Chase at Navan later this month as a possible target.
The eight-year-old, owned by JP McManus, blew away the cobwebs with a respectable third place in a Grade Three two-mile hurdle at Tipperary a month ago, on his first start since being pulled up in the Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown in April.
He was due to run in the Poplar Square Chase at Naas last weekend — also over the minimum trip — but sat that Grade Three feature out because of heavy ground, and is likely to go back up in distance next.
Howard said: “Winter Escape is in fantastic form, and I’ve been very happy with him since Tipperary.
“I’ve put him in the Troytown, and he could be going there.
“He ran over three miles in the champion novice at Punchestown at the end of last season, but he wasn’t right then.
“I think he’ll get the trip if he takes his time. He’s a good horse.”
