Karl Burke's exciting Night Raider is one of thirteen horses in line to take on champion two-year-old City Of Troy at Newmarket this weekend.
City Of Troy was labelled as the "best two-year-old we've trained" by trainer Aidan O'Brien after demolishing his rivals in both the Superlative and the Dewhurst Stakes last season. All eyes will be on Coolmore's red-hot market leader as he puts his unbeaten record and lofty reputation on the line at Newmarket on Saturday, but there will be no shortage of talented challengers as the likes of Rosallion, Ghostwriter and Night Raider all featured among the fourteen five-day confirmations.
Richard Hannon has made it no secret the regard he holds clear second-favourite Rosallion, with the impressive Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner "in great form" ahead of his eagerly-anticipated reappearance.
One who brings a somewhat different profile to the table is Karl Burke's Night Raider, who had clock-watchers purring when making a winning debut at Southwell before carrying a penalty to victory in a novice event back at that venue.
As was the case with Burke's 1000 Guineas contender Fallen Angel, Night Raider, who is a general 16/1 chance for the first British Classic of the season, warmed up for his tilt at 2000 Guineas glory with a racecourse gallop on the Rowley Mile during the Craven meeting.
"He's a lovely animal and whatever he does on Saturday, he is going to keep on improving as he has a lot of scope. I am sure he is a Group 1 horse in the making," said Burke.
"It could be a case of whether Saturday comes too soon but he has a lot of potential and a lot of ability. I don't think I've seen a horse work better in the 23 years we've been up here on the Polytrack at Middleham.
"He has a lot of things against him – it will be his first run on turf and his first proper gallop on turf was only at the Craven Meeting. He came out of that really well and we did it to give him the experience.
"He has a high cruising speed and can quicken off it as well. Clifford Lee rode him for the first time in a long time today as his regular work rider Rhona Pindar is on holiday. Cliff said he is like driving a car with 10 gears – every time you move on him, he goes forward.
"Danny (Tudhope) who rides him on Saturday loves him and I wouldn't mind betting there will be nothing travelling better a furlong and a half out.
"He has a lot to prove but has a lot of ability and am looking forward to seeing him run. There are a few horses in there with bigger reputations and hopefully, we can burst a few balloons."
The last year has been a difficult one for the 60-year-old Burke, having undergone treatment for bowel cancer.
Burke added: "Once the chemotherapy finished and I got back working around Christmas time, it has taken my mind off things like hospital visits and further check-ups that I have to have over the next couple of years.
"There are always plenty of things to think about in this job! The operation was fairly straightforward, and I even attended a couple of yearling sales but once the chemotherapy started, I was in the office and out for 1 or 2 lots, but I got tired pretty quickly as anybody who has had it will know. Doing plenty of planning in my head kept me occupied.
"I probably wouldn't want to do this job now without my family. They all have the pieces of the business they look after. Going back 10, 15, 20 years Elaine (wife) and I were trying to do everything, so Kelly and Lucy (daughters) have taken a lot of weight and workload off of us.
"We now have a couple of grandkids on the way. Kelly is due to give birth on May 7th so maybe it will come this weekend, and Lucy is due in August."
