RACING DIGEST:KEVIN PRENDERGAST is in no rush to make any firm plans for Classic prospect Shimah, with the turf Flat season due to start this weekend at the Curragh.

The daughter of Storm Cat was mightily impressive on her first two starts as a juvenile but lost her unbeaten record when going down by just half a length to Again in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh last time.

Prendergast feels she has improved again this term, but will speak to owner Hamdan Al Maktoum and his advisers before deciding whether she will make the trip to Newmarket for the Stan James 1,000 Guineas.

“Shimah is in good shape and is coming along nicely,” said Prendergast.

“We’ll discuss plans for her with the owner nearer the date and see what the score is.

“She ran a very good race in the Moyglare in what was very heavy ground and we know she wants decent ground.

“She seems well in herself, looks well and has filled out well – we’re very happy with her.”

Prendergast is ready to let Beach Bunny make her seasonal reappearance in the Lodge Park Stud EBF Park Express Stakes at the same meeting.

The four-year-old turned in a number of fine efforts during the last campaign, winning in Listed company as well as chasing home the smart Katiyra in the Group Two Blandford Stakes.

Prendergast has been happy with the filly’s work since she returned from her winter break, but admits Dermot Weld’s Mad About You will be tough to beat.

“Beach Bunny is a runner at the weekend and she has been coming on well since she came back into training,” said Prendergast.

“I think she has improved again over the winter and I would be hoping for a big run from her – but the filly of Dermot Weld’s does look a good thing as she’s rated 114.”

COLM MURPHY is in no rush to make any future plans for Brave Inca following his disappointing display in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last week.

The 11-year-old, winner of the hurdling crown in 2006, set himself up for another crack at the race with a gutsy success in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in January.

However, he could only finish 18th of the 23 runners at Prestbury Park and Murphy is currently at a loss to explain that below-par display.

“He seems good. He was little bit quiet with himself after he arrived home which you would only expect,” said Murphy.

“We’re going to give him a little while to get over it and then we’ll see where we go next with him.

“We were very disappointed on the day and he doesn’t seem to be himself at the minute but we’ll see what materialises in the next couple of weeks before we make any decisions.”

Murphy also had news on Big Zeb, who took a crashing fall under Robert Thornton in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the showpiece meeting last week.

“Big Zeb is very sore as you would expect but he seems in one piece,” Murphy continued.

“He’s grand and I would say it is more than likely he will run at Punchestown next month,” added Murphy.

MADE IN TAIPAN will bid to improve on his fourth-place finish in Cheltenham’s Arkle Trophy when he lines-up at Aintree next month.

The seven-year-old, trained by Tom Mullins, will be entered for both the John Smith’s Manifesto Novices’ Chase over two and a half miles on April 2nd the two-mile Maghull Novices’ Chase two days later.

“He’ll be entered in both and if the ground is quick he’ll probably go for the two and a half. We’ll look at the entries when they are out and see,” said the Co Kilkenny-based handler.

“It was a very good run at Cheltenham and he’s been well since. He wasn’t quite quick enough on the better ground there.”