Givemefive aiming to scale new heights in Swinton test

Harry Derham’s hat-trick seeking Givemefive will have to defy top-weight and a career-high rating when taking a swing at Haydock’s Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle on Saturday.

The five-year-old – who has golfers Brooks Koepka and Graeme McDowell amongst his owners – has enjoyed a fine season and notched up his third win of the campaign when making all over course and distance last month.

He now returns to the Lancashire track for one final outing before a summer break, with his handler ready to “roll the dice” to find out if he has the required extra lurking in reserve to bow out on a high.

“Everything is in his favour barring a career-high mark and top weight,” said Derham.

“He obviously loved the track last time and he looks to be in exceedingly good form, but he’s never been higher than 137 and the burden of top weight will make life pretty tough.

“He’s a very consistent, tough horse and did everything right last time – I don’t think Dan’s (Skelton) horse was getting by him at the line – but he will need to put in a much better effort to win the Swinton. Has he got that in him, I don’t know, but it’s worth finding out.

“It’s a difficult season when you are four turning five and for him to have won three times is great. We said if he came out of the last race well we would roll the dice at the Swinton and he has, so we’ll have a go.”

There is also Listed Flat action on the mixed card and owners Juddmonte have a strong hand in the Pertemps Network Spring Trophy Stakes with Harry Charlton’s Kikkuli and Andrew Balding’s Array.

A half-brother to Frankel, Kikkuli rattled the crossbar at Royal Ascot last year before competing in deep waters later in the campaign and is held in the highest regard by connections ahead of his return to action.

“Kikkuli had a very good season last year and was of course only just denied a win at Royal Ascot in the Jersey,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon.

“He’s in good form and Harry is very happy with him. It’s his first run of the year and you would expect him to improve for it as he’s a big, burly horse. But he’s in good shape and we’re looking forward to seeing him back on the track.”

Array won the Mill Reef as a juvenile and is expected to be sharper for a first run in 546 days at Thirsk last month.

He went on: “Array needed his run back having been off the track for 18 months and Andrew feels he has come forward for that.

“I think we will see a better reflection of his ability on Saturday and both horses are in line to return to Haydock in a couple of weeks time for the John of Gaunt Stakes (May 31).

“Both of these are using it as a springboard for that race, but Array might be a little more streetwise than Kikkuli having had a run.”

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