'Yard favourite' Royal Birth maintains Williams' excellent start to the year

Stuart Williams and Marco Ghiani have hit the ground running with a rapid start to the new year and the duo's fortunes increased with yard favourite Royal Birth following his last-gasp victory in the feature 5f handicap.

The ten-year-old was victorious over course and distance last month and proved age is just a number with another success, despite racing on his wrong leg and hanging to the right on the home turn.

His victory gave the trainer his third win in a row from four runners in 2021, with his other representative being beaten a short head into second, and Ghiani a fifth victory from his last seven rides.

"Me, my mother and my stepfather who is sadly no longer with us bred him. He's very much a yard favourite," Williams said. "He's always been a talented, genuine horse who tries hard.

"Remarkably the track doesn't suit him that well, he always gets on the wrong leg coming round the final bend. On numerous occasions he's blown it. Marco was very cool and didn't panic, it made the difference between winning and losing.

"Marco had a bumpy year last year because I sent him to America for the winter after his first season riding and he didn't ride. He came back into lockdown and it took him a fair while to get going. He's flying."

Kirby kicking on with treble

Adam Kirby has also made an immediate impact in the new year following a treble on the card.

The jockey rode Tamborrada to a debut victory in the 1m2f novice stakes, while he also struck aboard Figeac in the 2m handicap and Arabescato in division one of the 1m2f handicap. His last two winners were trained by Nick Littmoden.

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