Reverence ready to roll

Eric Alston reports Reverence to be “very fit” as the dual Group One winner bids to revive his career tomorrow.

The seven-year-old was put away for the season after breaking a blood vessel when trailing home last in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August.

Reverence has had no recurrence of the problem and is now ready to start a new campaign in the Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Conditions Stakes at Nottingham.

“He’s in super order and he’s very fit,” said Alston. “He’s not bled at home. We are very happy with him and we’ve had no problems. He’s been in since before Christmas and he’s had no hold-ups, so hopefully he’ll be OK.”

Reverence won the corresponding race at Nottingham in 2006 on the way to making his mark in the sprinting division, subsequently landing the Temple Stakes before notching his two wins at the highest level in the Nunthorpe and Betfred Sprint Cup.

However, he has not tasted success since that race at Haydock and was restricted to just three starts last season.

The Sprint Cup is over six furlongs but Alston intends keeping his stable star to the minimum trip this term.

“Basically he’ll stick to five furlongs this year wherever the ground is OK for him,” Alston continued. “He won’t run on fast ground and conditions tomorrow should be fine for him.”

With Reverence’s regular partner Kevin Darley now retired, Alston has booked Jimmy Quinn to take over.

“Jimmy’s not sat on him before, but he’s an experienced jockey and has ridden a couple on the all-weather for me this winter,” the trainer added.