Overdue return to action sees Encke look towards European action

Encke, previously trained by the disgraced Mahmood Al Zarooni, has not been seen since he foiled Camelot’s bid to land the Triple Crown at Doncaster in 2012.

He will go back into training with Charlie Appleby in Newmarket, with the intention of running in Europe later this year.

Steeler, who joined Godolphin from Mark Johnston after finishing third in the Racing Post Trophy in 2012, is in line to run on Thursday at Meydan.

Certify, unbeaten as a juvenile throughout 2012 with victories in the May Hill and the Fillies’ Mile, will reappear later during the Carnival.

Sheikh Mohammed’s racing manager Simon Crisford said: “We decided recently to continue with some of the horses who did not race last year.

“They include current entries Artigiano and Steeler plus Certify, who will be aimed at the top fillies’ contests during the Carnival. Encke is also in training and will go for races in Europe later in the year.”

Twenty-two former Al Zarooni-trained horses were suspended from racing between April and October last year after testing positive for banned anabolic steroids. Al Zarooni was banned for eight years.

Bryan Cooper secured his first win in his new job as Gigginstown House Stud’s main jockey at just the second attempt when the Gordon Elliott-trained Toner D’Oudairies landed the feature event at Thurles.

Just 30 minutes after falling at the last on Gigginstown’s Desertmore Stream, Cooper, 21, made sure he would not be waiting too long to get off the mark.

“He was entitled to do that. It is great to get a winner for Gigginstown, they have been very good to me since the start,” said Cooper who has replaced Davy Russell as first jockey.

Today’s jumps card at Chepstow is a victim of the torrential rain while Ludlow’s meeting 
tomorrow has already been called off.

No problems are expected at Doncaster tomorrow where the going is described as good to soft.

However, conditions may need to dry out if Rock On Ruby, Harry Fry’s 2012 Champion Hurdle hero, is to line up in a novice chase on Town Moor.

Doncaster’s Racing Post Trophy winner Kingston Hill could head straight to the Qipco 2000 Guineas – the first Classic of 2014 – without a prep run. “We’d like to start him in the 2,000 Guineas but it’s a blank canvas,” said trainer Roger Varian.