Slight setback for Lifeplan could scupper Craven plan

Gimcrack winner Lifeplan has suffered a slight setback that is likely to rule him out of an intended trial run ahead of the Betfred 2000 Guineas.

The Kodi Bear colt made an immediate impact last year with a debut victory at Thirsk and he followed that up when winning the Group Two at York to maintain the perfect start to his career.

Trainer Declan Carroll had hoped to run Lifeplan at the Craven meeting ahead of the season’s opening Classic to determine whether his charge could stay a mile, but may now have to reassess plans for the three-year-old.

Carroll said: “He’s good but he’s had a slight little setback which has just come at the wrong time. We were going to run him in the Craven but we might run out of time for that really. We were hoping to take that in before we go for the Guineas.

“The Guineas is the plan at the moment but it’s going to be a big ask. We had planned to take in a trial but it’s looking a bit tight for us now.

“It was a good performance in the Gimcrack. He’s shown on the track what he’s always shown us at home. He’s a decent horse, he’d be a star in anybody’s yard.

“You don’t look too far ahead but you have to think of Royal Ascot. We have to see if he gets the mile. That’s why we were keen to take in the Craven and we haven’t totally ruled it out, but it’s looking a bit tight and we’ll have to see how he goes at the end of this week.”