Charlie Hills Bidding For More Greenlands Glory With Iberian

Iberian will bid to provide 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 reward with Mitbaahy 12 months back 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 eager to stick at 6 furlongs, Iberian had the choice of running at York in Wednesday's 1895 Duke of York Stakes, but he is rather being readied for a journey throughout the Irish Sea.


"He's very well, we're really pleased with him. We decided to bypass York and we're going for the Greenlands rather," said 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 actually with his Doncaster run, he was most likely a bit unfortunate with the way he dived throughout the track and seemed to lose his concentration for a bit.


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


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


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


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


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


"We'll keep our choices 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."