Royal Runner Lightning Polka Out To Strike At Ayr

Following a remarkable debut at Haydock only a fortnight back, Lightning Polka will want 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 one of the first horses sent to fitness instructor Ed Walker by the King and Queen and made a best start to her career on Merseyside.


Her handler is well aware she has much more on her plate in Scotland this weekend, but is hoping she can show approximately the job.


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


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


"I think she'll enhance once again from this run and we have actually not done a lot since Haydock as this comes quick enough. I would have loved it to have actually been 3 weeks since her debut rather than 2, but she's a good filly and she was really straightforward 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 couldn't believe.


"I was so thrilled to train two 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 got a niggle early, but luckily she overcame that rapidly and she's amazing."


One of the most significant threats to Lightning Polka seems 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 The Moon, who had to opt for 2nd behind Albany Stakes runner-up Awaken on her Leicester debut before easily dispatching a subsequent winner at Beverley at the 2nd time of asking.


Fahey believes the No Nay Never filly may not understand her full potential up until next season, however is eager to evaluate the waters at a higher level before completion of her juvenile campaign.


"We do like her but I'm uncertain how she will deal with the ground if it's on the slow side," he said.


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


"She's a filly for next year truly and I didn't desire to run her a lot of times, however I required to run her again so I thought I might too run her in a great race and see how she gets on."


A total 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 4th 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 considering that 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 defeats 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 a really great horse and when he gets soft ground you'll see an even much better horse."