Charlie Hills Bidding For More Greenlands Glory With Iberian

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


The Lambourn handler claimed the Group Two reward with Mitbaahy 12 months ago and will have high hopes of contributing 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 keen to stick at six furlongs, Iberian had the alternative of performing at York in Wednesday's 1895 Duke of York Stakes, but he is instead being readied for a journey across the Irish Sea.


"He's extremely well, we're actually pleased with him. We decided to bypass York and we're going for the Greenlands instead," said Hills.


"The track ought to suit him well and if he runs well there then it might be great 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 with the way he dived across the track and seemed to lose his concentration for a little bit.


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


"He struck the line strong though, so we'll put that behind us now and look forward to the rest of the season."


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


However, present strategies are on hold for the son of Muhaarar, who prefers easy ground underfoot.


"We've simply got to wait up until it starts to rain. It's truly difficult to make plans with him at the moment, it's been so dry," Hills added.


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