Charlie Hills Bidding For More Greenlands Glory With Iberian

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


The Lambourn handler declared the Group Two reward with Mitbaahy 12 months ago and will have high hopes of adding 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 alternative of performing at York in Wednesday's 1895 Duke of York Stakes, however he is rather being readied for a trip across the Irish Sea.


"He's extremely well, we're really pleased with him. We chose to bypass York and we're aiming for the Greenlands rather," stated Hills.


"The track should suit him well and if he runs well there then it could be excellent timing to then go to the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.


"I was truly happy with his Doncaster run, he was probably a bit with the method 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 hit the line strong though, so we'll put that behind us now and look forward to the rest of the season."


Another Hills prisoner who started his season on a good note is Cicero's Gift, with the five-year-old finishing 3rd in a competitive renewal of the Group Two bet365 Mile at Sandown.


However, existing strategies are on hold for the boy of Muhaarar, who prefers simple ground underfoot.


"We've just got to wait until it begins to rain. It's actually tough to make strategies with him at the moment, it's been so dry," Hills included.


"We'll keep our choices open through the year however he's constantly been at his best when he can enter into the ground, so we'll just need to be patient and wait on the rain."