Charlie Hills Bidding For More Greenlands Glory With Iberian

Iberian will bid to offer trainer 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 reward with Mitbaahy 12 months back and will have high hopes of to his tally with a horse who was last seen going down a neck to Spycatcher in the Cammidge Trophy on the opening day of the season at Doncaster.


With Hills eager to stick at 6 furlongs, Iberian had the choice of running at York in Wednesday's 1895 Duke of York Stakes, but he is instead being readied for a trip throughout the Irish Sea.


"He's effectively, we're truly pleased with him. We decided to bypass York and we're intending for the Greenlands instead," stated Hills.


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


"I was actually delighted with his Doncaster run, he was most likely a bit unlucky with the way he dived throughout the track and seemed to lose his concentration for a bit.


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


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


Another Hills prisoner who began his season on a good 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 strategies are on hold for the boy of Muhaarar, who prefers simple ground underfoot.


"We've just got to wait up until it starts to rain. It's really tough to make plans with him at the moment, it's been so dry," Hills added.


"We'll keep our alternatives open through the year however he's always been at his finest when he can enter into the ground, so we'll simply need to be patient and await the rain."