'Relaxed' Tiggy raring to go

Richard Hannon has left no stone unturned in the bid to keep a lid on Tiggy Wiggy as the brilliant filly returns to action in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury.

Tiggy Wiggy proved herself to be the best of her sex as she recorded six victories and two seconds from her eight starts as a juvenile, culminating with a Group One success in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket in the autumn.

Tiggy Wiggy now has to put her credentials for the Qipco 1000 Guineas under scrutiny when she lines up for the Group Three contest, registered as the Fred Darling, over seven furlongs

Hannon told At The Races: "She's in great form and she's relaxing now. We've been very careful to get her relaxed. She has been very well behaved and has been moving fantastic.

"She hasn't grown massive amounts, but she's big enough. She wasn't very big last year and that didn't stop her, so I'm very hopeful. I hope they go a gallop and give her a bit of a lead. She'll need that to get her relaxed.

"She's been to Newbury before. She ran very well there. We've got everything prepared to try to make sure she is well behaved."

Richard Hughes partnered Tiggy Wiggy in her last five starts but has not ridden her in her work at home.

He told Racing UK: "I haven't ridden her (this year) and I don't want to as the lads do a good job with her. With her coat and physical well-being, she looks a million dollars. She looks like a colt.

"We're very happy with her and if she stays, she stays. It's not the end of the world if she doesn't. I'm going to try and drop her in. She's only been dropped in once in her career and that was at Sandown, where she settled quite well.

"If I go off and make it, I then have to try and drop her in in the Guineas, so I'd rather use it as a trial on Saturday and hopefully she settles."

Hannon has taken out his other declared runner Shagah as he feels she is not ready to begin the campaign.

Jonathan Portman expects seven furlongs to be well within Royal Razalma's compass as the filly, winner of the Cornwallis Stakes over the minimum trip on her last start in 2014, makes her reappearance.

"She has wintered well and she's training well. We had anticipated starting her off on slightly softer ground, but it's not the end of the world," said the Upper Lambourn trainer.

"We are looking forward to seeing her out and seeing what her trip is going to be and how good she is going to be. I'd be confident of seven furlongs being no problem for her. It might give us some clues that she might get the mile as well. We're very pleased with her."

Pastoral Girl ran some excellent races in defeat, notably when second to this week's Nell Gwyn winner Osaila in the Princess Margaret Juddmonte Stakes at Ascot, before losing her maiden tag at Leicester on her last start in October.

Trainer James Given said: " Pastoral Girl was a bit unlucky at Salisbury and then at Ayr it was a farce that every horse wanted to be on the rail. She was lucky not to get brought down, it was dangerous.

"I was pleased to get a win with her on her final run and her form from Ascot when second to Osaila was franked at Newmarket. I'm slightly disappointed with her draw (one) as she needs covering up yet she's drawn on the outside."

Given also saddles Russian Punch, who defeated Shagah to land the Listed Radley Stakes over the course and distance in October.

He added: "Russian Punch arguably has the better form as she has been more consistent and won a Listed race at the end of the season. She has gone on quicker ground so that shouldn't be an issue and she's done well through the winter.

"They've actually trained together so have brought each other along and went for a racecourse gallop last week. Tiggy Wiggy is obviously the one to beat, but we don't know if she has trained on or will stay, so it's worth having a go."

Ralph Beckett, who took the spoils with Moonstone Magic (2012), Puff (2010) and Penkenna Princess (2005), feels it is worth giving Redstart the chance to shine.

The handler said: "Redstart is training well and looks well. She is a very different type to our previous winners. Puff was a tough, precocious two-year-old and Moonstone Magic came in on the back of a debut win eight days earlier. Penkenna Princess was also a good two-year-old.

"Redstart had two runs last year and then we put her away. It is a big step up and will tell us where we are with her, but she has shown up well in her work and we think it is worth a shot."