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 claimed the Group Two reward with Mitbaahy 12 months back and will have high hopes of adding 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 Hills eager to stick at six 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 really well, we're truly pleased with him. We decided to bypass York and we're going for the Greenlands rather," said Hills.


"The track should match him well and if he runs well there then it could 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 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 anticipate the rest of the season."


Another Hills prisoner who started his season on an excellent 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, are on hold for the child of Muhaarar, who prefers easy ground underfoot.


"We have actually simply got to wait up until it begins to rain. It's actually hard 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 best when he can enter the ground, so we'll simply need to be patient and wait for the rain."