Royal Runner Lightning Polka Out To Strike At Ayr

Following a remarkable debut at Haydock only a fortnight ago, Lightning Polka will seek 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 career on Merseyside.


Her handler is well conscious she has much more on her plate in Scotland this weekend, but is hoping she can prove up to the job.


Speaking at Newbury on Friday, Walker said: "It's a special day and she was actually outstanding at Haydock on her launching.


"I think she'll be OK on the ground, although Tom (Marquand) stated it was a bit dead and ugly when he rode there on Thursday.


"I believe she'll improve once again from this run and we have actually refrained from doing a lot considering that Haydock as this comes quick enough. I would have liked it to have been three weeks considering that her debut rather than 2, but she's a nice filly and she was really simple and professional very 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 in fact our first two-year-old to have a setback, which I could not believe.


"I was so thrilled to train 2 horses for the King and Queen and I have an extremely good filly who is a bit backward and then Lightning Polka, who is more of a two-year-old type. She went and chose up a niggle early, however luckily she got over that quickly and she's exciting."


One of the most significant dangers to Lightning Polka appears to be dual winner Coming Attraction, who won a hot conditions race at Chester last time and the thriving Roger Varian string.


Also in the mix is Richard Fahey's Catching The Moon, who had to go for 2nd 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 thinks the No Nay Never filly might not realise her complete capacity up until next season, however is eager to evaluate the waters at a greater level before the end of her juvenile project.


"We do like her but I'm not exactly sure how she will handle the ground if it's on the sluggish side," he stated.


"We're pleased to run her and see what takes place. I think her first run was quite good and we feel we would most likely beat the winner if we satisfied once again 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 really and I didn't wish to run her a lot of times, however I required to run her once again so I thought I may also run her in an excellent race and see how she gets on."


An overall 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 easy 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 appearance given that impressing at Newmarket in April.


He is the most 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 suitable for a four-year-old who has suffered successive narrow defeats at Listed level in the Gala Stakes and August Stakes.


"He's been a bit unfortunate 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," said Haggas.


"He's an extremely nice horse and when he gets soft ground you'll see an even much better horse."