Fran Berry Column: Lily in bloom for Newbury debut

It was very nice to get the ride on Muthmir at Bath last week and while he had everything in his favour, he did it very well in the Bathwick Tyres Conditions Stakes.

It was a nice confidence-booster for him ahead of bigger targets ahead and he really enjoyed the fast ground. He came up the hill well at the end of the five-and-a-half furlongs and it gives connections the option to go back over six later in the campaign if they wish.

I said in the last column that I was looking forward to Sibilance and she did not disappoint in the Watch RacingUK On Virgin 536 Fillies' Conditions Stakes at Kempton. I could not have been happier with her. I thought she would run well but would come on for it having been off the track for a while but she won very well and is an exciting prospect.

I have some nice rides at Newbury’s first Flat meeting of the season. It is the local track for our team and we have some nice horses running.

Jim Rockford is Ralph Beckett’s first two-year-old runner of the season in the Dreweatts Newcomers' EBF Stallions Maiden Stakes on Friday. 

It is a good opportunity to get this lad started and he has been shaping up quite well at home. He’s by Showcasing and bred to be sharp and has shown a good attitude in his work. Like all of Ralph’s he will improve for the experience but I hope for a good show.

Brendan Powell bought Warrior Of Light for the Dubai Carnival and his first run at Meydan off the back of a long absence was good. Perhaps he bounced the second day and I hope he runs much better in a competitive renewal of the Compton Beauchamp Estates Ltd Silver Bar Handicap.

Harebell is very nice and reappears in the Bathwick Tyres Maiden Fillies' Stakes. I don’t think she handled the track at Wolverhampton on her second and final start last year, she’s quite a big filly too and could just have gone over the top. We were very pleased with her debut run at Doncaster and the form of that reads well.

She has been training very well at home and the course here will suit her. I am looking forward to seeing her back in action.

We have taken our time with Butterfly Lily who makes her debut in the Coln Valley Stud Bridget Maiden Fillies' Stakes. She is a half-sister to a good horse of Dean Ivory’s called Librisa Breeze who is getting better with age and this filly is going well at home. I would expect her to run a nice race with a view to the future and it would be no surprise to see her show up at the finish.

I have three rides on the Saturday card including Espresso Martini in division two of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Maiden Stakes. He is an unraced son of Royal Applause who I know little about but hopefully he will shape well on debut.

It is great to have Pacify back on the track in the Be Wiser Insurance Spring Cup Handicap. He has been off the track since running no race when one of the market leaders for the Wolferton Handicap at Royal Ascot. It was so unlike him as he is such a consistent horse.

A mile might be on the sharp side for him here but the straight track will suit and while he will clearly improve for the run after such a long break, I hope he can run a good race.

Finally I’d expect a bold show from Really Super in the Carter Jonas Maiden Stakes. We were thrilled with her only start at two. She is a big filly who was very green at Goodwood but came home well when the penny dropped in against colts.

She takes on the boys again here and going up to a mile-and-three will really suit her. She is another exciting ride.

Next week the show moves onto Epsom and Goodwood and more Classic trials. It is too early at this stage to know what’s heading there but I’ll be back with my thoughts in the next blog.