Charlie Hills Bidding For More Greenlands Glory With Iberian

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


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


With to stick at 6 furlongs, Iberian had the alternative 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 extremely well, we're really pleased with him. We decided to bypass York and we're going for the Greenlands instead," stated Hills.


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


"I was really pleased with his Doncaster run, he was probably a bit unfortunate with the way he dived throughout the track and appeared to lose his concentration for a little bit.


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


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


Another Hills prisoner who started his season on a great 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, present strategies are on hold for the boy of Muhaarar, who prefers simple ground underfoot.


"We have actually 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 included.


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