Royal Runner Lightning Polka Out To Strike At Ayr
Following an impressive debut at Haydock just a fortnight earlier, Lightning Polka will look to bring the royal colours to Group Three success in the Ladbrokes-sponsored Firth Of Clyde at Ayr on Saturday.
The daughter of Night Of Thunder is among the first horses sent to fitness instructor Ed Walker by the King and Queen and made an ideal start to her profession on Merseyside.
Her handler is well aware she has far more on her plate in Scotland this weekend, however is hoping she can prove as much as the job.
Speaking at on Friday, Walker stated: "It's a huge day and she was truly impressive at Haydock on her launching.
"I believe she'll be OK on the ground, despite the fact that Tom (Marquand) stated it was a bit dead and ugly when he rode there on Thursday.
"I think she'll enhance once again from this run and we've not done a lot considering that Haydock as this comes quick enough. I would have liked it to have been 3 weeks considering that her debut instead of 2, however she's a good filly and she was truly straightforward and professional first time.
Trainer Ed Walker is ready for a big afternoon at Ayr (John Walton/PA)
"It's a dream to train for the King and Queen and she was really our very first two-year-old to have an obstacle, which I could not think.
"I was so fired up to train two horses for the King and Queen and I have a very nice filly who is a bit backward and after that Lightning Polka, who is more of a two-year-old type. She went and got a niggle early, however thankfully she overcame that rapidly and she's interesting."
One of the biggest risks to Lightning Polka appears to be double winner Coming Attraction, who won a hot conditions race at Chester last time and represents the growing Roger Varian string.
Also in the mix is Richard Fahey's Catching The Moon, who needed to choose 2nd behind Albany Stakes runner-up Awaken on her Leicester launching before readily dispatching a subsequent winner at Beverley at the second time of asking.
Fahey thinks the No Nay Never filly might not understand her full potential up until next season, however is keen to check the waters at a higher level before completion of her juvenile project.
"We simulate her however I'm unsure how she will deal with the ground if it's on the slow side," he stated.
"We more than happy to run her and see what takes place. I believe her first run was quite great and we feel we would probably beat the winner if we satisfied again and after that the race at Beverley which she won will have done her the world of great, so we've been pleased with her.
"She's a filly for next year really and I didn't wish to run her too lots of times, but I needed to run her once again so I thought I may also run her in a great 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 significant names consisting of Simon and Ed Crisford's Lowther fourth 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 very first appearance 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 suitable for a four-year-old who has actually suffered succeeding narrow beats at Listed level in the Gala Stakes and August Stakes.
"He's been a bit regrettable however he desires soft ground and hopefully 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 great horse and when he gets soft ground you'll see an even much better horse."