Swinbank stars primed for return

Racegoers are likely to see Alan Swinbank’s stable stars Collier Hill and Ouninpohja back in action in the near future.

The globetrotting Collier Hill has not been out since finishing a gallant second behind Heart’s Cry in the Group One Dubai Sheema Classic in March, although his handler explained the absence was partly due to a lack of options for the eight-year-old.

“Collier Hill is going to the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, or the race at the Curragh (the At The Races Curragh Cup),” he said.

“We’ve been short of races for him really, as the ground has been so atrocious abroad. That’s why we haven’t run him.”

Ouninpohja was one of the most progressive horses of the 2005 Flat season, landing a five-timer that culminated in an impressive two-and-a-half-length defeat of Camrose in a competitive Newmarket handicap.

He made a highly satisfactory return to action last month when second to Akarem, who has subsequently scored in Listed company at Ascot. Ouninpohja is set to step up in trip to a mile and three-quarters this weekend, but his trainer thinks he will be perfectly at home over the distance.

He explained: “Ouninpohja goes in the Listed race at Musselburgh on Saturday, and I don’t expect the trip will trouble him.”