Upbeat bulletin on Lightening Exciting filly Lightening Pearl is in "magnificent form" as she continues her preparations for the Qipco 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. The three-year-old grabbed Group One glory for trainer Ger Lyons in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Headquarters in October and will now bid for Classic honours on May 6. Connections have decided against giving her a prep run and while there remains some doubt about her ability to stay the mile, David Redvers, racing manager for owners Pearl Bloodstock, is more optimistic now than he was last year after watching her work on Thursday. "I was over at Ger's yard with Sheikh Fahad on Thursday and the filly looked magnificent," said Redvers. "The likelihood is that she won't run in a trial as Ger feels, quite rightly, that a 7lb penalty is not really on and we don't want to go and leave her Guineas run in a trial. "They are going to take her for a good racecourse gallop some time in the next couple of weeks and then, hopefully, straight to Newmarket. "She's in magnificent form, she's as fit as a flea and looks brilliant. "Having seen her and spoken to Ger and Johnny (Murtagh), who rode her in work on Thursday, I think there is every chance she will get the mile. "She is switching off in her work so well now, which is encouraging. We're delighted with her."
