Thursday 7 June 2018 14:50, UK
Life Of Riley will attempt to get on the Royal Ascot bandwagon by winning the Brian Yeardley Two-Year-Old Trophy at Beverley on Saturday.
Karl Burke's colt made an encouraging debut at Hamilton, but really came into his own when he stormed a length and a half clear in a five-furlong novice stakes at Ripon.
Niall O'Brien, racing director for Life Of Riley's part-owners, the Ontoawinner syndicate, said: "We probably expected a little more from his debut, but he was a little bit green.
"He certainly made up for it at Ripon and we think he'll step forward again.
"The Brian Yeardley is a good race with good prize-money, and if he were to win, we'll go to Royal Ascot for the Windsor Castle Stakes."
Young Newmarket trainer Tom Clover believes Gypsy Spirit has a lot going for her in the historic Hilary Needler Trophy on the same card.
Clover has gone out of his way to appoint star French jockey Gerald Mosse for the ride on Gypsy Spirit, who won well on her debut at Windsor before finishing third in a hot novice stakes over six furlongs at Lingfield.
He said: "It's worth good money and the track will suit her well.
"I'd love a drop of rain for her, being by Gregorian, but that's not to say she won't run well if it doesn't come.
"We think she'll enjoy running over five furlongs up the hill at Beverley and if she ran very well, you'd have to look at Royal Ascot - especially if there is some cut in the ground."