Franklins heading for Newbury

Franklins Gardens is set to kick off his season with a run in next month’s Dubai Irish Village Stakes at Newbury.

Mark Tompkins’ five-year-old looked a Classic prospect back in 2003 when he won the Lingfield Derby Trial, but he suffered an injury after finishing unplaced in the Vodafone Derby and did not run again for nearly a year.

Franklins Gardens failed to score in seven starts last season but he put up a decent performance when second to Millenary in the Jockey Club Cup.

Tompkins told At The Races: “He ran a great race at Newmarket when he was second, but he is a horse that has been plagued with problems.

“He ran a good race early on at Sandown when he was fourth. Then he just had a problem again and then he was plagued with them all last year and I just couldn’t get him right.

“We got him right in the end and he ran a very good race at Newmarket, and he’s a proper horse.

“This year, touch wood, we have had no problems and hopefully we will have a good season with him. He will be entered for mile-and-a-half and two-mile staying races.

“We may start him off in the John Porter (now Dubai Irish Village), then go for the Sagaro at Lingfield. He’s a really nice horse.”

Tompkins is also hoping Hawkes Bay can acquit himself well in the coming season.

The colt was a staying-on third behind River Alhaarth at Leicester last year and the Newmarket handler has entered him for the UltimatePoker.com 2000 Guineas.

“He’s quite a big horse and we gave him plenty of time last year and he just got the hang of it late and stayed on very well,” he added.

“I don’t know how good a maiden it was. I don’t think it was too bad. I think there will be quite a few winners come out of this race.

“He’s working nicely and we have a lovely bunch of three-year-olds this time. They’re all working well together.

“He’s by Vettori, so you would think he would go on anything, but I certainly won’t be hammering him on the firm ground.”