Smullen hoping Newbury weather favours Swallow
Thierry Gillet and Pat Smullen are hoping for different conditions for their prospective rides in Saturday’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes.
Gillet, who rides French hope Bago, would prefer for the ground at Newbury to be on the fast side while Smullen wants a bit more cut in the ground for last season’s Irish Derby winner Grey Swallow.
The pair met in May’s Tattersalls Gold Cup, where Grey Swallow prevailed by three-quarters of a length but Gillet hopes that his mount can reverse the form.
“We wouldn’t want the ground to be too soft or holding,” he told the Racing Post. “The better the ground the better it is for us. It shouldn’t be a worry as long as it’s good or good to firm.
“There’s no one particular danger as far as the competition is concerned, we’ll have to watch out for everybody. But I feel fine, just perfect, and I’m very confident.”
Bago was last seen finishing third in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud while Grey Swallow has not run since his victory at the Curragh.
Smullen said of Dermot Weld’s grey: “Firm ground would be a concern. He doesn’t need it soft but he wouldn’t like it firm.
“I’m hoping for good ground, and if we get that it should be fine. If they don’t get rain, I hope they’ll water to prevent it being firm.
“It’s going to be very tough as it looks like being a very hot race, but he worked well after racing at the Curragh and is in great shape.”
The ground at Newbury is currently Good to Firm.
