Charlie Hills Bidding For More Greenlands Glory With Iberian

Iberian will bid to offer trainer Charlie Hills with back-to-back triumphes in the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.


The Lambourn handler claimed the Group Two prize with Mitbaahy 12 months earlier and will have high hopes of including to his tally with a horse who was last seen going down a neck to Spycatcher in the Cammidge Trophy on the opening day of the season at Doncaster.


With Hills eager to stick at 6 furlongs, Iberian had the option of running at York in Wednesday's 1895 Duke of York Stakes, however he is instead being readied for a journey across the Irish Sea.


"He's effectively, we're truly pleased with him. We decided to bypass York and we're intending for the Greenlands instead," said Hills.


"The track needs to fit him well and if he runs well there then it might be good timing to then go to the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.


"I was actually happy with his Doncaster run, he was probably a bit unfortunate with the method he dived throughout the track and seemed to lose his concentration for a bit.


Iberian winning the Betfred Champagne Stakes (Tim Goode/PA)


"He hit the line strong though, so we'll put that behind us now and anticipate the remainder of the season."


Another who started his season on an excellent note is Cicero's Gift, with the five-year-old finishing third in a competitive renewal of the Group Two bet365 Mile at Sandown.


However, existing plans are on hold for the son of Muhaarar, who chooses simple ground underfoot.


"We have actually simply got to wait till it begins to rain. It's actually tough to make plans with him at the moment, it's been so dry," Hills included.


"We'll keep our alternatives open through the year however he's always been at his finest when he can enter the ground, so we'll simply need to be client and wait for the rain."