BIG THINGS IN PROSPECT FOR QIPCO 2000 GUINEAS HOPE BERKSHIRE

Four months on from his victory in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes, Berkshire is pleasing his connections as he begins his preparations for a return visit to Newmarket’s Rowley Mile Racecourse to contest the QIPCO 2000 Guineas on Saturday 3rd May. “We are very happy with Berkshire and are hoping for big things,” said Oliver Cole, assistant to his father, trainer Paul Cole. “When he won the Royal Lodge he did it the hard way as he was coming back from three months away, he pulled hard and he was out on his own in the middle of the track. His toughness saw it out.” “He is the type of horse that one would expect to get better and better with every race and he is still relatively inexperienced compared with many of his rivals.” “We have had a lot of very serious horses over the years but this horse is an exception in terms of his height and his strength. He has thickened and furnished a lot and is a bigger, stronger horse so I would hope that there is much more improvement to come.” Initially, straight after the Juddmonte Royal Lodge, connections suggested that Berkshire might not run again before the QIPCO 2000 but their precise running plans remain fluid. “We haven’t ruled out the possibility of a prep race before the Guineas,” Cole junior said. “It would be either at Newbury, which is just up the road from us, or Newmarket [in the Novae Bloodstock Insurance Craven Stakes on Thursday 17th April].” Newmarket Racecourses reports that tickets for the two-day QIPCO Guineas Festival are selling very well, with early bird customers enjoying a 10% online discount in Grandstand & Paddock (£20.70) and Premier Enclosure (£36.00) and free entry for all accompanied under 18s. Parties and group bookings of 10 can receive an additional 10% advance purchase discount online. To book, visit http://www.newmarketracecourses.co.uk/ or call 0844 579 3010.