Sky Sports News' racehorse On Demand is back in training after a rest break and expected to race in July

Sky Sports News' racehorse On Demand has returned to her yard fresh and raring to go after a rest break and is on course for a return to the track next month.

Trainer Andrew Balding, who runs Kingsclere Park House Stables in Newbury, said: "On Demand has clearly enjoyed her time away from the yard, she’s come back fresh and raring to go.

"The team at Highclere Stud – where she spent her time away from the yard – did a great job not only getting her back into great physical shape, but also mentally.

"Racehorses need time away from training as much as human athletes do, and hopefully we’ll see this translate onto the track."

The chestnut filly, who has had four career runs, will now have her training built up to target a return to racing in mid to late July. 

Balding added: "Part of On Demand’s pre-training before she came back to me was spent in the lunge exercising her aerobically without a saddle and rider on her back.

"The aim of this was to ensure she was carrying her head in the right position and as a result she built up muscle in the right places. She strengthened up her back end, giving me an engine to work with when she came back.

"Looking ahead, we’ll do another fortnight or so of ground work with her - as a result of her being able to relax in the field she put on a lot of condition (weight), and I need to turn this into muscle.

"Once I see her full fitness start to return I’ll do some fast work with her at home on the gallops, and begin to identify some races for her.

"She wouldn’t want the ground too fast and hard, so we will try and pick a racecourse which is known for softer ground - but we are hostage to the weather so we will see what it delivers come July."