Tag Archive for: Celandine

Walker lining up powerful squad for Ebor meeting

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Ed Walker is building up a strong team for the Ebor Festival at York later this month with two leading contenders for the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes in Celandine and Mgheera.

The Lambourn handler has a third entry in the Group One sprint in Balmoral Lady but she is only likely to take her chance if the ground is soft.

Celandine won the Lowther Stakes at the track last year while Mgheera had to settle for second in the Sapphire Stakes in Ireland last time out, having won her first two starts for Walker.

“I think it’s probably unlikely we’ll run all three. It will probably be Celandine and Mgheera – or Balmoral Lady. To be competitive at that level, I think Balmoral Lady needs softer ground,” said Walker.

Celandine won the Lowther Stakes last year
Celandine won the Lowther Stakes last year (Mike Egerton/PA)

“Celandine’s in great form. She’s definitely trained on. I’m adamant that she will be comfortable with the five furlongs. I feel she just about hangs on over six – like she did in the Lowther – and I’m really excited about seeing her in a strong five furlongs. She showed great speed in the Molecomb as a two-year-old. The owners are supportive, so I think we’re going to roll the dice in the Nunthorpe.

“Mgheera, it’s been the plan since the Temple Stakes. We thought we’d take in Ascot and that went terribly wrong (withdrawn at the start). Then we felt we needed a run in between the Temple Stakes and the Nunthorpe, so squeezed in Ireland. That was a big run in Ireland – very happy with her. I just think the very slick nature of York, flat track, hopefully fast ground is exactly what she wants.

“We’re really excited about her. Touch wood, she’s in good nick – she’s a definite runner as long as the ground stays good or faster and she’s been training really well.”

Qilin Queen bounced back to form to win a Group Two in France last time out and is a possible for the Pertemps Network Yorkshire Oaks.

“She went to France and put in a huge effort that day,” said Walker. “I’ve given her plenty of time to freshen up. She’s just starting to show a spring in her step. We’re not hellbent on the Yorkshire Oaks but if it’s fast ground and she’s bucking and squealing, then we’ll have a go.”

Ten Bob Tony is another with a Group One entry in the newly upgraded Sky Bet City of York Stakes but he is ground dependent.

“He needs good ground or softer. He’s a horse who goes very well fresh – his best races are off the back of a break. He’ll go where the ground’s right.” said Walker.

Royal Fixation will attempt to give Walker back-to-back wins in the Lowther
Royal Fixation will attempt to give Walker back-to-back wins in the Lowther (Joe Giddens/PA)

One who is a definite runner is the filly Royal Fixation, who beat all bar the classy Venetian Sun in the Duchess of Cambridge at Newmarket.

Walker said: “It’s been the plan since Newmarket. We’ve always thought she’s very good. We’ve just been patient with her and the Lowther seems the perfect fit for her. She’s training great. She’s very quick, very talented and I think York will really suit her. Hopefully we’ve got a live chance with her.”

Do Or Do Not has the Tattersalls Acomb Stakes on his radar.

Noble to Champion Walker’s Goodwood hopes

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Royal Ascot hero Noble Champion is set to lead Ed Walker’s squad into battle at next week’s Qatar Goodwood Festival.

The Lambourn handler is enjoying an excellent season, highlighted by multiple Group-race victories thanks to the exploits of not only Noble Champion but also the likes of Almaqam – who is bound of this weekend’s York Stakes – Mgheera, Scenic and Ten Bob Tony.

Walker is preparing several high-class operators for various races on the Sussex Downs and is hopeful of adding to his hitherto meagre tally at the track’s feature meeting of the year.

Ed Walker is lining up a strong team for Goodwood
Ed Walker is lining up a strong team for Goodwood (PA)

Speaking at a Goodwood-organised press visit at his yard on Tuesday, the trainer said: “Numerically we are not flying along, it just seems that way as we received a lot of good publicity following a couple of high-profile winners.

“The last month or so has been a bit bread and butter and also frustrating as we’ve had a shed load of seconds and thirds in the last fortnight.

“In our number of winners we are a bit down on last year, so the truth is we are making headlines but not adding to our total – and to date I’ve only had one winner at the big Goodwood meeting.”

Noble Champion, a surprise but impressive winner of the Jersey at the Royal meeting last month, is one of two Walker-trained entries for the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes on July 29, along with his John of Gaunt Stakes scorer Ten Bob Tony.

Ed Walker is preparing his horses for Goodwood
Ed Walker is preparing his horses for Goodwood (PA)

However, with both horses in the same ownership, they are unlikely to lock horns.

Of Noble Champion, Walker said: “He needs a good, even gallop like the one he got from Spy Chief in the Jersey, and that horse went on to run a solid race in the July Cup.

“My horse thumped Spy Chief at Ascot and we’re buzzing about him. He’s a very exciting horse.

“We also have Ten Bob Tony in the Lennox, but Noble Champion is more likely to go as he’s OK on the better ground and is in flying form.”

Scenic won the Group Three Bronte Cup at York on her penultimate start before pushing red-hot favourite Estrange all the way in Haydock’s Lancashire Oaks.

The five-year-old, who was purchased by the powerful Wathnan Racing team prior to her neck defeat on Merseyside, is also set to be part of Walker’s Goodwood-bound battalion.

Scenic (left) pushed Estrange all the way at Haydock
Scenic (left) pushed Estrange all the way at Haydock (Nigel French for The Jockey Club)

He added: “Scenic ran a massive race in the Lancashire Oaks and is heading for the Lillie Langtry.

“She didn’t get the credit she deserved in a muddling race at Haydock and I’m happy to take on the winner again. I think she will run to a higher rating in the Yorkshire Oaks than at Goodwood.”

Other planned contenders for the trainer include Celandine, who ran a race full of promise on her return from 10 months off the track when third in York’s Summer Stakes recently, and the Coventry and July Stakes runner-up Do Or Do Not.

“Celandine and Balmoral Lady are both in the King George Stakes and at this point it looks more like Celandine will go there as she wants it (the ground) like a road. She has bags of speed, but just got hassled by Rage Of Bamby at York last time,” said Walker.

“The owner of Do Or Do Not is very keen to take him to the Vintage Stakes and that’s the plan as it looks like he’s crying out for seven furlongs.

“He’s bred to be a fun horse but he’s very good, and deserves to win one of these Group races.”

Celandine thriving ahead of Summer Stakes tilt

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After being considered for an audacious July Cup bid, Celandine will return to the scene of past glory as she makes her reappearance in York’s William Hill Summer Stakes on Friday.

Although not seen since fifth in the Cheveley Park Stakes as a two-year-old, trainer Ed Walker gave serious thought to supplementing the daughter of Kingman for Saturday’s Newmarket feature such is quality of her work at home.

However, she will instead be in Group Three action a day earlier on the Knavesmire, a place that proved a happy hunting ground when she claimed the Lowther Stakes last summer when getting the better of subsequent Commonwealth Cup scorer Time For Sandals.

Walker said: “It’s really exciting to have her back and she’s been working really well, so much so that I toyed with supplementing her for the July Cup what with the fast ground.

“We saw sense and have gone the sensible route and she seems in great nick.

“Hopefully she can prove she’s trained on, which is what she’s been showing us at home, she’s certainly grown and is a very exciting filly.”

The Richard Hughes-trained Sayidah Dariyan finished a close up fourth in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and drops back in against her own sex.

“I was very confident going into Ascot, although her price was huge, and she didn’t let us down. She ran a blinder,” said Hughes.

“The flat six furlongs at York will really play into her strengths, I think. She’s quite a fast filly, so we’re hoping for a big run.

“She’s an angel to train. She only lost three kilos at Ascot, so that convinced me I’d be able to back her up at York. She’s easy, just ticking over and she’s fit.”

David O’Meara’s Nighteyes, fourth in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at 100-1, James Tate’s Electric Storm and the William Haggas-trained First Instinct are among a field of 12.