Royal Runner Lightning Polka Out To Strike At Ayr

Following an excellent launching at Haydock only a fortnight back, Lightning Polka will want to carry 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 one of the first horses sent out to trainer Ed Walker by the King and Queen and made a perfect start to her profession on Merseyside.


Her handler is well conscious she has a lot more on her plate in Scotland this weekend, however is hoping she can prove approximately the job.


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


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


"I believe she'll improve again from this run and we have actually refrained from doing a lot given that Haydock as this comes quick enough. I would have enjoyed it to have actually been 3 weeks given that her debut rather than 2, but she's a great filly and she was really uncomplicated and professional very first time.


Trainer Ed Walker is prepared 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 problem, which I could not believe.


"I was so excited to train 2 horses for the King and Queen and I have a really good filly who is a bit backward and then Lightning Polka, who is more of a two-year-old type. She went and got a niggle early, however luckily she overcame that rapidly and she's interesting."


One of the greatest risks to Lightning Polka appears to be dual 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 opt for second behind Albany Stakes 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 may not understand her full potential until next season, however is keen to check the waters at a higher level before completion of her juvenile campaign.


"We do like her but I'm unsure how she will handle the ground if it's on the sluggish side," he said.


"We're delighted to run her and see what occurs. I think her first run was quite good and we feel we would probably beat the winner if we fulfilled again and after that 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 a lot of times, however I required to run her again so I believed I might too run her in a good race and see how she gets on."


An overall of 15 two-year-old fillies go to post 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 very first look since impressing at Newmarket in April.


He is the 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 ideal for a four-year-old who has suffered succeeding narrow beats at Listed level in the Gala Stakes and August Stakes.


"He's been a bit regrettable 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 a very great horse and when he gets soft ground you'll see an even better horse."