Royal Runner Lightning Polka Out To Strike At Ayr
Following an outstanding debut at Haydock only a fortnight earlier, Lightning Polka will seek 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 first horses sent out to trainer Ed Walker by the King and Queen and made a best start to her profession on Merseyside.
Her handler is well conscious she has a lot more on her plate in Scotland this weekend, but is hoping she can show as much as the job.
Speaking at Newbury on Friday, Walker stated: "It's a huge day and she was actually impressive at Haydock on her debut.
"I think she'll be OK on the ground, even though Tom (Marquand) stated it was a bit dead and ugly when he rode there on Thursday.
"I believe she'll enhance again from this run and we've refrained from doing a lot given that Haydock as this comes quick enough. I would have loved it to have actually been three weeks since her launching instead of 2, but she's a great filly and she was really simple and expert first time.
Trainer Ed Walker is ready 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 first two-year-old to have an obstacle, which I could not believe.
"I was so excited to train 2 horses for the King and Queen and I have a very good 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 luckily she overcame that quickly and she's amazing."
One of the greatest 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 settle for 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.
the No Nay Never filly might not realise her complete capacity till next season, however is eager to check the waters at a greater level before the end of her juvenile project.
"We simulate her but I'm uncertain how she will deal with the ground if it's on the sluggish side," he said.
"We more than happy to run her and see what happens. I think her first run was quite excellent and we feel we would probably beat the winner if we reunited and after that the race at Beverley which she won will have done her the world of good, so we've been pleased with her.
"She's a filly for next year actually and I didn't wish to run her too lots of times, however I required to run her once again so I believed I may also run her in an excellent 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 including Simon and Ed Crisford's Lowther 4th Dandana, Ed Bethell's easy 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 very first appearance because impressing at Newmarket in April.
He is the likely favourite in a field of six for a 10-furlong contest in which William Haggas is represented by Caviar Heights, with the Somerville Lodge handler hoping conditions remain ideal for a four-year-old who has suffered succeeding narrow defeats at Listed level in the Gala Stakes and August Stakes.
"He's been a bit regrettable however he desires soft ground and ideally it will still have some cut in it on Saturday as the softer it is, the better he will be," stated Haggas.
"He's an extremely nice horse and when he gets soft ground you'll see an even much better horse."