Charlie Hills Bidding For More Greenlands Glory With Iberian

Iberian will bid to offer fitness instructor Charlie Hills with back-to-back victories in the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.


The Lambourn handler claimed the Group Two prize with Mitbaahy 12 months back and will have high hopes of adding to his tally with a horse who was last seen going down a neck to in the Cammidge Trophy on the opening day of the season at Doncaster.


With Hills eager to stick at six furlongs, Iberian had the alternative of running at York in Wednesday's 1895 Duke of York Stakes, but he is rather being prepared for a trip throughout the Irish Sea.


"He's effectively, we're actually pleased with him. We chose to bypass York and we're going for the Greenlands rather," stated Hills.


"The track ought to match him well and if he runs well there then it might be great timing to then go to the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.


"I was truly happy with his Doncaster run, he was most likely a bit unfortunate with the way he dived throughout the track and appeared to lose his concentration for a bit.


Iberian winning the Betfred Champagne Stakes (Tim Goode/PA)


"He struck the line strong however, so we'll put that behind us now and eagerly anticipate the remainder of the season."


Another Hills inmate who began his season on an excellent note is Cicero's Gift, with the five-year-old completing third in a competitive renewal of the Group Two bet365 Mile at Sandown.


However, current plans are on hold for the child of Muhaarar, who prefers simple ground underfoot.


"We have actually simply got to wait till it starts to rain. It's actually tough to make strategies with him at the minute, it's been so dry," Hills added.


"We'll keep our alternatives open through the year but he's always been at his best when he can enter into the ground, so we'll simply need to be client and wait for the rain."