Jenkins Could Run Little White Lie in Rose Bowl
07/05/08

John Jenkins is hoping that Little White Lie will take his chance in the £50,000 Rose Bowl (2.45pm), run over 10 furlongs at Epsom Downs on Ladies’ Day, Friday, June 6, entries for which are revealed today.

The four-year-old joined Jenkins’ Royston yard recently having previously been trained in Ireland by Ger Lyons, who sent out the gelding to finish a good second in the Vodafone Group Services Handicap over seven furlongs on Ladies’ Day last year.

Jenkins was pleased with how Little White Lie coped with the unique demands of Epsom Downs on that occasion and also hopes that a step up in distance could suit his new recruit well.

Jenkins said: “Little White Lie has been entered in the Rose Bowl. He’s been with me about three weeks now and I am very happy with him. He’s settled in well.

“Any horse rated in the 90s can’t be a bad handicapper. He seems a very relaxed horse and I don’t see why he shouldn’t stay.

“I spoke to Richard Quinn who rode him in the Lincoln at Doncaster in March and he said the horse just seemed very flat in himself and he was never really going to pick up, but he thinks that a longer trip might suit him.

“He’s set to run in the Victoria Cup at Ascot on the weekend and that could be a fact-finding mission. I don’t really think he is a seven-furlong horse and he could need further in time.

“I saw a video of his run at Epsom last year and he came down the hill well and looked as if he stayed on at the end so that’s why I thought that the Rose Bowl would be a good target for him. He’s a nice horse and I am looking forward to running.”

A total of 38 horses have been entered for the Rose Bowl, including the Brian Meehan-trained Charlie Farnsbarns, who finished second to last year’s Vodafone Derby winner Authorized in the Group One Racing Post Trophy at Newbury in October, 2006.

Sir Michael Stoute has entered recent handicap scorer Cabinet, Gulf Express and the unexposed Sugar Ray, while Mick Channon could be represented by 2006 Vodafone Derby runner Championship Point and multiple Group winner Halicarnassus.

Jamie Osborne has engaged last year’s Cambridgeshire second Docofthebay and Tears Of A Clown, and the pair could be joined by Proponent, trained by Roger Charlton and an impressive winner of the competitive Suffolk Stakes at Newmarket on May 4.

Rookie trainer David Lanigan has entered New Freedom in the £50,000 Dash (3.15pm), run over the fastest five furlongs in the world at Epsom Downs on Derby Day, Saturday, June 7. The seven-year-old finished fifth on his latest start in the Group One Dubai Golden Shaheen at Nad Al Sheba on March 29.

Lanigan said: “New Freedom has been entered in the Dash at Epsom. He’s rated 105 and we want to see how good he is in handicap company first of all before trying him in a Group race.

“He has an awful lot of speed over five furlongs on the dirt and he’s very quick even coming out of the stalls.

“Following his run in the Golden Shaheen, he had about three weeks’ break in Dubai and has been with me for around two weeks now. He’s settled in perfectly and he’s done very well since he has been with me.

“He’s a pretty straightforward horse, being very sound and a good mover. He’s had a little break and it’s just a question of whether he can transfer his dirt form to the turf. Five or six furlongs should suit him and we will see how he gets on.

“We have entered him in the Darley July Cup as well and it would be a possible target if he has a good run before that. The Dash seems a nice race to start him off in.”

A total of 46 horses have been entered for the Dash, including last year’s first and second, the Stuart Williams-trained Hogmaneigh and Moorhouse Lad, who is among Bryan Smart’s four entries.

David Nicholls, successful in the race four times, has entered Buachaill Dona, Tournedos, Masta Plasta, Strike Up The Band and Bigalo’s Bandit, while William Haggas could be represented by Group Two winner Conquest and Fyodor.

Kevin Ryan, who saddled subsequent Group One winner Desert Lord to victory in 2006, has engaged Green Manalishi, Evens And Odds, Tamagin and Northen Empire, while James Given has entered Morinqua, who was an impressive Listed winner at Bath recently.