Royal Runner Lightning Polka Out To Strike At Ayr

Following an outstanding launching at Haydock just a fortnight earlier, Lightning Polka will aim to bring 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 very 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 mindful she has much more on her plate in Scotland this weekend, but is hoping she can prove up to the task.


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


"I believe 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 again from this run and we have actually refrained from doing a lot because Haydock as this comes fast enough. I would have loved it to have been three weeks considering that her launching rather than 2, however she's a good filly and she was actually straightforward and expert very first time.


Trainer Ed Walker is all set 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 very first two-year-old to have an obstacle, which I could not think.


"I was so fired up to train 2 horses for the King and Queen and I have a really 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, however fortunately she overcame 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 represents the Varian string.


Also in the mix is Richard Fahey's Catching The Moon, who had to settle for second behind Albany Stakes runner-up Awaken on her Leicester launching before easily dispatching a subsequent winner at Beverley at the second time of asking.


Fahey believes the No Nay Never filly might not realise her complete capacity up until next season, however is keen to check the waters at a higher level before completion of her juvenile campaign.


"We simulate her however I'm not exactly sure how she will manage the ground if it's on the slow side," he stated.


"We enjoy to run her and see what occurs. I believe her first run was rather great and we feel we would probably beat the winner if we reunited 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 actually and I didn't want to run her too lots of times, however I needed to run her again so I believed I might as well run her in an excellent 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 fourth Dandana, Ed Bethell's easy Catterick winner Rogue Attraction and George Boughey's unbeaten three-time winner India Love.


There is also 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 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 remain 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 however he wants soft ground and ideally it will still have some cut in it on Saturday as the softer it is, the much better he will be," said Haggas.


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