Royal Runner Lightning Polka Out To Strike At Ayr

Following an outstanding debut at Haydock only a fortnight ago, 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 fitness instructor Ed Walker by the King and Queen and made an ideal start to her career on Merseyside.


Her handler is well aware she has a lot more on her plate in Scotland this weekend, but is hoping she can prove up to the task.


Speaking at Newbury on Friday, Walker said: "It's a big day and she was truly impressive at Haydock on her launching.


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


"I think she'll improve once again from this run and we have actually refrained from doing a lot since Haydock as this comes quick enough. I would have loved it to have actually been 3 weeks given that her debut rather than 2, however she's a great filly and she was actually simple and expert 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 actually our first two-year-old to have a setback, which I could not believe.


"I was so fired up to train 2 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 selected up a niggle early, however thankfully she got over that rapidly and she's amazing."


One of the greatest risks to Lightning Polka seems double winner Coming Attraction, who won a hot conditions race at Chester last time and represents the thriving Roger Varian string.


Also in the mix is Richard Fahey's Catching The Moon, who needed to go 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.


Fahey believes the No Nay Never filly may not realise her complete capacity up until next season, however is keen to evaluate the waters at a greater level before the end of her juvenile project.


"We simulate her but I'm not sure how she will cope with the ground if it's on the sluggish side," he said.


"We enjoy to run her and see what happens. I think her first run was quite great and we feel we would most likely beat the winner if we met once again and then the race at Beverley which she won will have done her the world of excellent, so we've been pleased with her.


"She's a filly for next year really and I didn't wish to run her too times, but I needed to run her once again so I thought I may as well 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 noteworthy 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 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 stay suitable for a four-year-old who has suffered successive narrow beats at Listed level in the Gala Stakes and August Stakes.


"He's been a bit unfortunate but 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 better horse."