Swallow set for Channel clash

Grey Swallow will clash with fellow top-drawer performer English Channel in the Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park tomorrow night.

Dermot Weld’s five-year-old made a successful bow in America last month when beating the ex-Paul Cole inmate Brecon Beacon by an easy five lengths in a Grade Two mile-and-a-half event.

The 2004 Irish Derby winner steps into top company tomorrow, though, and faces a total of eight rivals in the Belmont Stakes’ undercard highlight.

Weld is still expecting a bold performance despite the rise in class

“Grey Swallow meets some smart American horses at Belmont Park but provided there’s no bounce factor on his second start over there, he’ll run a big race,” he said.

The Todd Pletcher-trained English Channel finished fifth behind Shirocco in the Breeders’ Cup Turf in October and is unbeaten in two starts this term.

His latest success came in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on Kentucky Derby day and his handler is hoping for a fast pace.

“What concerns me more than anything is it shapes up as kind of a paceless race,” Pletcher said.

“I don’t want to be on the lead. He’s got a good turn of foot and he just does everything right.”

Pletcher is also slightly concerned about the distance, and told www.bloodhorse.com: “He showed he could get a mile and a half in the Turf Classic last autumn, although I think a mile and a quarter might be his best distance.”

Another formidable opponent for Grey Swallow is former stablemate Relaxed Gesture who relegated Weld’s charge to fourth with a flawless success in the Canadian International last October.

He subsequently disappointed in the Dubai Sheema Classic and has not raced since that March 25 contest.

Trainer Christophe Clement said: “It’s been tough training him over the slop every day, but he’s doing well.

“In Dubai he was very fresh and I wish I could have given him a race before, but I couldn’t.

“He came back from Dubai in very good order, and I had wanted to give him a long break but I couldn’t because he was doing so well.

“This horse runs well on any ground, but compared to some of the other horses in the race his form is better on the soft.”