Sir Percy set for Royal return (From This Is Wiltshire)

Sir Percy set for Royal return

4:37pm Wednesday 25th April 2007

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RAY Burroughs looks ahead to the weekend's racing

ROYAL Ascot's Prince Of Wales Stakes could be the first target of the season for last year's Epsom Derby winner Sir Percy.

Lambourn Trainer Marcus Tregoning paraded his stable star among others at a recent press day at the impressive Kingwood Stables where he said that the talented four year old could take in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown en route to the Royal meeting.

"It would depend on the ground conditions where he goes, but he would appreciate the uphill finish at Sandown," said the trainer.

The trainer also added that his 100 strong stable could well be quiet over the next couple of weeks as the horses get over their coughing and get back to full work.

Aqaleem, this year's Derby entry, is back cantering after the cough and is not certain to make Epsom , while the three year old filly Basaata, who has also been on the sidelines will not run in the Thousand Guineas.

The Lambourn trainer had made a good start to the season with nine winners on the all weather before the cough struck but added: "It hit the older horses, not the two year olds, but fortunately they are all over it now but I won't be in a hurry to get them back to full work, and we are unlikely to have any runners for a couple of weeks."

The trainer had a word to say about Mubtaker, who had to be put down following an accident on the gallops he said: " He was atremdous horse for us and at one point was the highest rated old horse in the world. I think the key to Mubtaker was that he was lightly raced because he was a bit injury prone.

"It was great to take him down the road to Newbury where he won the Geoffrey Freer three times running, to think he was winning Group races as a nine year old was really quite something.

"To get another one like him, we have to be extremely lucky."

Sandown takes centre stage this weekend with an exciting mixed card featuring the Betfred Gold Cup Chase run over three miles five and a half furlongs, the Group 2 Betfred mile and the Group 3 Classic Trial for three year old colts and gelding run over one mile two furlongs.

The Gold Cup has attracted it's usual top class field of jumpers looking to collect their last big prize of the jump season.

The weights are headed by the Paul Nicholls trained My Will, ridden by Mr N Schofield, who takes a valuable 7lb off the seven year olds back.

Stable jockey Ruby Walsh rides Cornish Set and Sam Thomas completes the Nicholls raid on Royal Auclair.

Flat trainer James Fanshawe has Reveillez entered while Juveigneur could represent the Lambourn stable of Nicky Henderson.

With AP McCoy claimed by JP Mcmanus for Reveillez Richard Johnson takes over from the champion jockey on Alderburn and is the columns selection.

Frankie Dettori could provide his followers with another winner when he partners Jeremy for Sir Michael Stoute in the Betfred Mile and in the Classic Trial he could well complete a double on the Michael Bell trained Regime.

The meeting concludes with a Flat v Jump jockeys race over a mile where the top boys from both codes will be flat out to win the contest.

There is plenty of othe action around the country with an afternnon meeting at Leicester beginning at 2.20 with a two year old Median Auction Stakes that could go to Legendary Guest, trained by Mick Channon and ridden by Darryl Holland.

Feature race on the card is the Listed Leicestershire Stakes where the Barbary Castle trained Levera would look to have a good chance.

Yorkshire racing fans are catered for at Ripon where their first race gets underway at 2.30, jockey to follow at the meeting could be Kevin Darley who would look to have some useful rides.

Haydock and Wolverhampton stage evening meetings with the fixture at Haydock getting underway at 5.45 with a Maiden Fillies Stakes for two year olds that could go to the Manton trained Carolina Blini.

Wolverhampton's meeting under lights starts at 7pm where the best bet could be Grand Lucre in the second race on the card.

Jumping fans are catered for with a meeting at Market Rasen where their first race is at 1.30.

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