Viking primed for Goodwood raid

Viking Spirit ended a 13-race losing streak at Chepstow last month, leaving trainer Walter Swinburn to believe lady luck may finally be shining on his talented sprinter.

The five-year-old bids for a high-profile follow-up in Saturday’s Bluesquare.com Stewards’ Cup, in which he just made the cut by virtue of a 3lb penalty.

Swinburn has been pleased with Viking Spirit’s recent progress but has his fingers crossed the all-important gaps appear in Goodwood’s valuable cavalry charge.

He said: “I’m happy with his preparation and he’s in good order.

“He had a two-year period of rotten bad luck and we were beginning to wonder if that was ever going to change.

“We missed getting into the Wokingham by two and we had been getting him ready for the Victoria Cup but he scoped badly before that.

“But it all changed at Chepstow and let’s hope the luck can continue now,” Swinburn told At The Races.

Viking Spirit will break from stall 22 and his Tring handler believes he should have every chance from that position.

“I wasn’t there (when the draw was made) but I had a representative and I was on the other end of the line and we were delighted with the draw,” added Swinburn.

“He’s been in good form for some time and we just needed the luck to change.

“I’m pretty hopeful that he’ll run a big race tomorrow.”