Sky Bet Sunday Series wrap: Lir Speciale looks exciting for Racing TV members

Round two of this year’s Sky Bet Sunday Series from Newmarket had further additional interest for Racing TV members with the debut in the RaceShare silks of our new syndicate horse Lir Speciale, and the gelding delivered on pre-race hopes by running a fine race on his seasonal return and first try at five furlongs to finish strongly for fourth. 

Breaking well on the outside in stall 1 down the middle of the track, the five-year-old broke well and settled well but struggled at the half way stage as the pace hit 42mph on lively ground before staying on to really good effect, finishing just over three lengths behind winner Pepsi Cat for the Steph Hollishead team to take fourth. 

Lir Speciale was a two-time winner over six furlongs for former trainer Roger Varian – as well as one at seven furlongs - and current handler Stuart Williams told Racing TV post-race that stepping back up in trip will now be the next move. 

“I always thought six furlongs [would suit better] but we just thought this was a good spot to start him in. 

“Literally all of my turf horses have been needing the run, so I’m very pleased with that and hopefully he will jump forwards.”

Jockey Marco Ghiani added: “He seemed fine over five – maybe if it was more uphill and more pace he probably could run over five – but I think he’s probably a six-furlong horse. 

“He ran a bit fresh today but he was very fast out of the gate and travelled nicely and he galloped past the line really well and took a while to stop.

“There will be a lot to come from him.” 

If you’re a Racing TV member and would like to get involved in the journey with Lir Speciale, check out the Racing TV syndicate to find out more.

Tom Ward had a tear in his eye after his remarkable Tamayuz filly Woodhay Wonder – an inexpensive purchase and owned by the trainer’s father – made it five wins from seven career starts and three from three on the Rowley Mile in the feature £75,000 Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Handicap. 

The winner of two big sales races last year, the three-year-old scooped this near-£40,000 first prize to take her career earnings comfortably past £200,000 and she showed her customary resolution and will to win near the line to score a shade cosily under Tom Marquand. 

“She hadles this track so beautifully and Tom has campaigned her with that in mind," the winning rider told Racing TV's Rachel Casey.

“She’s a tough filly and I’d say Tom has done a really nice job of just peogerssing her through and picking up some strong money without getting slapped by the handicapper.

“It’s great for Tom’s team – they’re not big in numbers but they’re working really hard to get the best out of these horses.”

Ancient Truth made a very nice start for William Buick, Charlie Appleby and Godolphin with a ready success in the opening contest of the evening, the Cure Leukaemia Novice Stakes.

Towards the head of affairs, the Dubawi colt - a brother to the ill-fated Great Truth - showed a good turn of gear on quick ground coming out of the Dip and won with a bit in hand to score by a length and a half from Richard Hannon runner-up Principality.

Assistant trainer Alex Merriam said: He's done it really nicely, very straightforward and professional, and did everything you could expect first-time out and we're very pleased.

"He'd been going nicely at home so we were hopeful."

On future plans, Merriam added to ITV Racing: “Just speaking to Charlie there, we’ll probably swerve Ascot. 

“He’s probably a horse that will want seven furlongs in time and he doesn’t qualify for a Chesham, so Ascot probably wouldn’t work. 

“I think Charlie said maybe give him one more run and look at the Superlative over the July Course, so that will probably be the plan.”

Appleby has trained four winners from 10 runners in the Superlative Stakes in a juvenile race that he likes to target, with some of the high-class names to have prevailed in the Newmarket contest for Moulton Paddocks in recent years including Native Trail (2021), Master Of The Seas (2020) and Quorto (2018). 

Four fixtures remain in this year's Sky Bet Sunday Series: 

• Hamilton Park (June 2) 

• Thirsk (June 16)

• Haydock Park (August 4)

• Pontefract (August 18)