Royal Runner Lightning Polka Out To Strike At Ayr
Following a remarkable debut at Haydock just a fortnight back, Lightning Polka will aim to carry the royal colours to Group Three success in the Ladbrokes-sponsored Firth Of Clyde at Ayr on Saturday.
The child of Night Of Thunder is one of the very first horses sent out to trainer Ed Walker by the King and Queen and made a perfect start to her profession on Merseyside.
Her handler is aware she has far more on her plate in Scotland this weekend, but is hoping she can prove approximately the job.
Speaking at Newbury on Friday, Walker stated: "It's a special day and she was really impressive at Haydock on her launching.
"I believe she'll be OK on the ground, although Tom (Marquand) said it was a bit dead and ugly when he rode there on Thursday.
"I think she'll improve again from this run and we've refrained from doing a lot given that Haydock as this comes fast enough. I would have enjoyed it to have actually been three weeks given that her launching rather than 2, but she's a great filly and she was really uncomplicated and professional first time.
Trainer Ed Walker is prepared for a huge afternoon at Ayr (John Walton/PA)
"It's a dream to train for the King and Queen and she was actually our very first two-year-old to have a problem, which I couldn't think.
"I was so fired up to train 2 horses for the King and Queen and I have a really nice filly who is a bit backwards and after that Lightning Polka, who is more of a two-year-old type. She went and got a niggle early, but thankfully she got over that rapidly and she's amazing."
One of the greatest dangers to Lightning Polka seems double winner Coming Attraction, who won a hot conditions race at Chester last time and represents the flourishing Roger Varian string.
Also in the mix is Richard Fahey's Catching The Moon, who had to go for 2nd behind Albany Stakes runner-up Awaken on her Leicester debut before readily dispatching a subsequent winner at Beverley at the second time of asking.
Fahey believes the No Nay Never filly might not realise her complete capacity up until next season, but is keen to the waters at a greater level before the end of her juvenile project.
"We do like her however I'm uncertain how she will manage the ground if it's on the sluggish side," he said.
"We're happy to run her and see what happens. I believe her very first run was rather good and we feel we would most likely beat the winner if we satisfied once again and then the race at Beverley which she won will have done her the world of excellent, so we've been pleased with her.
"She's a filly for next year truly and I didn't desire to run her too numerous times, but I required to run her once again so I believed I may too run her in a great race and see how she gets on."
A total of 15 two-year-old fillies go to post on the west coast of Scotland, with other significant names consisting of Simon and Ed Crisford's Lowther 4th Dandana, Ed Bethell's simple Catterick winner Rogue Attraction and George Boughey's unbeaten three-time winner India Love.
There is also competitive action, albeit with less runners, in the Listed Ladbrokes "Big Football Bet Builder Boosts" Doonside Cup, where Andrew Balding's Feilden Stakes winner Almeric makes his first look given that impressing at Newmarket in April.
He is the likely favourite in a field of 6 for a 10-furlong contest in which William Haggas is represented by Caviar Heights, with the Somerville Lodge handler hoping conditions remain suitable for a four-year-old who has suffered successive narrow beats at Listed level in the Gala Stakes and August Stakes.
"He's been a bit regrettable but he wants soft ground and hopefully it will still have some cut in it on Saturday as the softer it is, the better he will be," said Haggas.
"He's a really great horse and when he gets soft ground you'll see an even much better horse."