Royal Runner Lightning Polka Out To Strike At Ayr

Following an impressive launching at Haydock only a fortnight ago, Lightning Polka will look 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 trainer Ed Walker by the King and Queen and made a best start to her career on Merseyside.


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


Speaking at Newbury on Friday, Walker said: "It's a big day and she was truly remarkable 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 improve again from this run and we have actually refrained from doing a lot since Haydock as this comes fast enough. I would have liked it to have actually been 3 weeks since her debut instead of 2, but she's a good filly and she was truly straightforward and expert very first time.


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


"I was so excited to train 2 horses for the King and Queen and I have a very great filly who is a bit backwards and after that Lightning Polka, who is more of a two-year-old type. She went and picked up a niggle early, however thankfully she overcame that rapidly and she's amazing."


One of the biggest threats to Lightning Polka appears to be double winner Coming Attraction, who won a hot conditions race at Chester last time and represents the prospering Roger Varian string.


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


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


"We enjoy to run her and see what happens. I think her very first run was quite excellent and we feel we would most likely beat the winner if we reunited and after that the race at Beverley which she won will have done her the world of excellent, so we have actually 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 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 including 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 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 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 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," stated Haggas.


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