Sruthan got his season off to the best possible start when taking the Big Bad Bob Gladness Stakes in convincing fashion at the Curragh. Custom Cut won this Group 3 event 12 months ago and again made a bold bid from the front but was collared by Chris Hayes’ mount inside the final furlong.

The four-year-old son of Arakan kept on well in the closing stages to score by a length and a half, with Custom Cut just holding off Wannabe Better for second place.

Sruthan won three of his six outings last year finishing up with a Group 3 success at Tipperary last autumn and trainer Paul Deegan believes the best is yet to come.

Deegan said, “I always thought he was going to be a better horse this year. He’s grown and has huge depth to him.

“He’ll stick to in and around a mile and will improve from that. He could go for the Prix du Muguet (Group 2 in Saint-Cloud) or the Lockinge. We’ll see how he is after this.

“I haven’t killed him for today as it’s a long season. We have his two-year-old full-sister at home called Lily White Socks and she’ll be out soon.”