Cecil targets Ascot glory

Novellara will aim to add to Henry Cecil’s tally of Royal Ascot winners when she contests the Ribblesdale Stakes next Thursday.

Cecil has an enviable record in the Group Two having won it five times already and he will be represented by the daughter of Sadler’s Wells, who last month landed a mile-and-quarter Salisbury maiden on her debut.

The Newmarket-based trainer is currently putting the finishing touches to Novellara’s preparations ahead of the mile-and-a-half fillies’ event at the Royal meeting.

He told www.henrycecil.co.uk: “I am very happy with her and think she will run very well as long as she handles the likely fast conditions.

“So many of Sadler’s Wells progeny prefer some juice in the ground.

“But she has been working well and Richard Hughes was very pleased with her when he rode her in a piece of exercise last Wednesday.

“Whether he rides her in the Ribblesdale has not yet been confirmed as the filly’s owner Prince Khalid Abdulla is also likely to be represented by Quench, trained by John Gosden.”

Cecil first won the race with Catalpa in 1976 with Strigida, Queen Midas, Alydaress and Yashmak also prevailing to contribute to Cecil’s total of 70 Royal Ascot triumphs.