Royal Runner Lightning Polka Out To Strike At Ayr
Following an excellent launching at Haydock only a fortnight ago, Lightning Polka will aim to bring 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 to trainer Ed Walker by the King and Queen and made a best start to her profession on Merseyside.
Her handler is aware she has much more on her plate in Scotland this weekend, but is hoping she can show up to the task.
Speaking at Newbury on Friday, Walker said: "It's a huge day and she was really impressive at Haydock on her debut.
"I think she'll be OK on the ground, despite the fact that Tom (Marquand) stated it was a bit dead and tacky when he rode there on Thursday.
"I think she'll enhance once again from this run and we've refrained from doing a lot considering that Haydock as this comes fast enough. I would have liked it to have actually been 3 weeks since her debut instead of 2, but she's a nice filly and she was actually uncomplicated and professional very 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 believe.
"I was so fired up to train two horses for the King and Queen and I have a very great 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, however thankfully she got over that quickly and she's exciting."
Among the biggest hazards to Lightning Polka appears to be double winner Coming Attraction, who won a hot conditions race at Chester last time and represents the prospering Roger Varian string.
Also in the mix is Richard Fahey's Catching The Moon, who had to choose second behind Albany Stakes runner-up Awaken on her Leicester launching before readily dispatching a subsequent winner at Beverley at the 2nd time of asking.
Fahey believes the No Nay Never filly may not understand her full capacity until next season, but is eager to evaluate the waters at a greater level before the end of her juvenile project.
"We simulate her but I'm unsure how she will cope with the ground if it's on the slow side," he said.
"We more than happy to run her and see what happens. I believe her very first run was rather great and we feel we would probably beat the winner if we met 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 wish to run her too many times, but I required to run her once again so I believed I may also run her in a good race and see how she gets on."
A total of 15 two-year-old fillies go to publish on the west coast of Scotland, with other notable 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 likewise 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 because impressing at Newmarket in April.
He is the most 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 appropriate 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 however he ground and hopefully it will still have some cut in it on Saturday as the softer it is, the much better he will be," said Haggas.
"He's a very nice horse and when he gets soft ground you'll see an even much better horse."