Charlie Hills Bidding For More Greenlands Glory With Iberian

Iberian will bid to offer fitness instructor 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 prize 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 keen to stick at 6 furlongs, Iberian had the alternative of performing at York in Wednesday's 1895 Duke of York Stakes, but he is instead being readied for a journey across the Irish Sea.


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


"The track needs to 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 really pleased with his Doncaster run, he was most likely a bit unlucky 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 began his season on a great note is Cicero's Gift, with the five-year-old finishing 3rd in a of the Group Two bet365 Mile at Sandown.


However, current strategies are on hold for the child of Muhaarar, who chooses simple ground underfoot.


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


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