Swinbank Reveals Ambitious Hill Plans

Alan Swinbank is considering lining up Collier Hill for an audacious bid for the Irish Field St Leger on September 17 and the Emirates Melbourne Cup in November.

The seven-year-old has the alternative of trying to attempt back-to-back victories in the Stockholm Cup International, but his trainer would like to rate his horse against four-time Leger winner Vinnie Roe, who finished second in the Melbourne Cup last year.

'The Irish Leger is in about three weeks and he´s in that and he´s also in the Stockholm Cup in a fortnight so we´ll just have to see where we go and what the ground is like,' Swinbank told At The Races.

'I wouldn´t mind getting a line through Vinnie Roe for whether we go to Australia.

'It would be nice to get in off a handy raceable weight. Dean McKeown will ride, as he´s ridden around Melbourne before and he thinks the track and trip will suit him if we are lucky enough to get there.'

Far Pavilions is also set for foreign climes having finished third in the Northumberland Plate last time out.

'He´s a good horse,' added the Melsonby handler. 'Mr (David) Abell, who owns him, is looking forward to him going abroad in Group races - there´s more prize money over there in Germany.

'We could win a couple abroad, maybe Groups or Listed, then we´ll give him a rest so he can win again.

'Plus, he´ll be going hurdling this time and will be possibly a future chaser.'

Swinbank believes Far Pavilions would also be able to hold his own in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham next March.

'He´d be up to that level,' he said. 'He´s rated 124 or 125 and is not so badly handicapped over hurdles.

'He´s not in the Cesarewitch but has a few entries abroad and I think there will be something in the next three weeks for him.'

? PA Sport