Tag Archive for: ed walker

Royal Fixation is Lowther queen for Ed Walker

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Royal Fixation sprinted away from the field to land Group Two honours in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York.

Trained by Ed Walker and ridden by William Buick, the 5-2 joint-favourite was settled well off the pace in the six-furlong contest and had plenty of ground to make up as the race began in earnest.

But once Buick got lower in the saddle, Royal Fixation picked up in style to beat market rival America Queen by a length. Staya also made late gains to be beaten a further two lengths in third.

Royal Fixation was going one place than at Newmarket, where she had finished runner-up in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes on what was just her second career outing.

Walker said: “We’ve always thought a lot of her and she ran a huge race at Newmarket. It’s been a really long six weeks since then, we’ve let her down and had to build her back up and then you start wondering if you’ve got it right or is she too fresh.

“She’s so good, what is exciting is that she still looked a bit green off the bridle, when he first asked her she just wandered around a bit.

“She’ll get further, for sure, but she won’t go to the Fillies’ Mile, I think we’ll go to the Cheveley Park. She’s quick, she’s got loads of speed, she’s got a very fast female line and I think she’d be too keen over a mile at the moment.”

Richard Hughes said of runner-up America Queen: “She can only improve. Ryan (Moore) just had to commit probably 50 yards earlier than he would have liked and you’re there to be shot at on an inexperienced horse, but she’s run a blinder and we can’t ask for more.

“The winner is a good filly and they opened up on the field, which is good. I’m gutted, but pleased.”

He added: “The Cheveley Park has always been in my mind, so we’ll have a little think about it. She’ll definitely be running again before that, but where we’re not sure yet. It was all about today first.”

George Scott was also pleased with the effort of third home Staya, saying: “She ran a really nice race. They raced on the far side and it got very tight and didn’t go to plan at all, but she’s run with great credit again and she’s probably well capable of going one or two better in this grade in the future.

“It just didn’t happen or pan out for us today. She picked up well, but it was too late – it was just the way the race worked out. It was a bit of an unsatisfactory race for us and it’s a little bit frustrating, but the winner has won well and well done to them.

“You’d love to have another run before the Cheveley Park, but we’ll see how she is.”

Ed Walker anticipating bold Lowther show from Royal Fixation

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Ed Walker is backing Royal Fixation to defy her relative inexperience in Sky Bet Lowther Stakes at York on Thursday.

Owned by Opulence Thoroughbreds, Ed Walker’s youngster pushed Albany Stakes scorer Venetian Sun to within a neck in the Group Two Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket and her team are confident they have a top-class prospect on their hands ahead of this next assignment.

“She’s done nothing but please us really and this has been the plan since Newmarket,” said Walker.

“There will be a couple in there with a bit more experience than her but that was a huge run at Newmarket on just her second start and we’re very excited about her.

“We’ve always liked her and she’s a short price in a Group Two, so she’s got to go and prove it now and there’s some very unexposed and equally very good fillies in there. So it’s far from a given, but we think she’s in good form and hopefully she can go well.”

One of those unexposed fillies Walker may have to worry about is Richard Hughes’ America Queen, who created a deep impression when romping to a 12-length Haydock success on debut.

Connections have reached for the services of Ryan Moore for the exciting €180,000 purchase who is an intriguing proposition on just her second start.

“She was very impressive at Haydock and we don’t really know what was behind her, but she was just in a different league to them that day,” said Philip Robinson, racing manager to owner Jaber Abdullah.

“It’s going to be interesting and she could be absolutely anything. It can be a different thing though once stepping up to take on other quality horses and you will find out where you are.

“We’re very pleased to get Ryan Moore for a big occasion like this and we’re just keeping our fingers crossed and looking forward to it.”

Hughes and Abdullah will also be represented in the race by Mood Queen, while Charlie Johnston’s unbeaten Timeforshowcasing also sports the owner’s colours in the six-furlong event.

“Timeforshowcasing is another who is progressive and Charlie has always thought a lot of her,” continued Robinson.

“There’s even Mood Queen in there who has shown a nice level of form, but I think between America Queen and Timeforshowcasing we have a realistic chance of taking the race.

“With America Queen, I’m just hoping can prove she is something a little bit special – we’ll know exactly where we are this time next week.”

George Scott’s Princess Margaret Stakes runner-up Staya and Tim Easterby’s consistent Argentine Tango – last seen chasing home Lady Iman in the Molecomb at Goodwood – add further spice to an intriguing contest.

Brian Ellison fields Criterium du Bequet winner Wor Faayth, seven years after his The Mackem Bullet was agonisingly denied in the dying strides of this contest.

“She won very well last time and is a nice filly,” said Ellison.

“She’s been in great form since and I’m really happy with her. This has been the plan since La Teste De Buch and she’s a Listed winner.

“She’s a really fast filly and it’s great to have Tom (Marquand) on board, he’s top-class. I think she will run well and she’s done nothing wrong at home.

“Her work has been great, she’s a tough filly who eats well and she took her trip to France very well, so we’re very hopeful.”

Simon and Ed Crisford’s Dandana got the better of Karl Burke’s Pearl Fortune at Ripon recently to take her record to two from two and now both step up in grade, while similar applies to Dylan Cunha’s Windsor winner Come On Eibhlin.

Adrian Keatley’s Marygate scorer Secret Hideaway returns to the scene of her finest hour to complete the line-up.

Ed Walker targets Prix Foy with Almaqam

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Ed Walker is hopeful his patience can be rewarded when Almaqam puts his Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe credentials to the test in the Prix Foy next month.

Held in the highest regard by his team, the dry summer and fast ground has rather curtailed the four-year-old’s progress since his impressive win over Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes back in May.

While that Sandown rival has gone on to contest – and win – some of the summer’s highest profile middle-distance events, Almaqam has only been seen the once since, finishing second to Royal Champion when a beaten favourite at York last month.

However, Walker is content to sit and wait for the right opportunity for his star colt to advertise his quality on his preferred going, now eyeing a move up to a mile and a half at ParisLongchamp on September 7 which could prove the catalyst for an exciting Arc tilt later in the autumn.

“He’s bouncing but it’s just a bit frustrating again that we can’t get him out and we’re just being patient and waiting for some soft ground,” said Walker.

“The plan at the moment is the Prix Foy and that will tell us if we’re going to have a crack at the Arc or not or head for the Champion Stakes.”

Almaqam was no match for Royal Champion
Almaqam was no match for Royal Champion at York (PA)

He went on: “I’m not sure if the ground may have caught him out at York last time really, as it was a very good performance from the winner. Probably the slightly drying ground and slick track just didn’t play to his strengths.

“He’s a hard horse to beat on soft ground so we just have to be patient.”

Almaqam is currently a best price of 50-1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with odds of 16-1 available for the Qipco Champion Stakes on British Champions Day.

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.

Setback signals the end of Scenic’s racing career

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Ed Walker’s high-class filly Scenic has been retired after suffering a setback, her owners Wathnan Racing have announced.

The daughter of Lope De Vega had made a fine start to her five-year-old campaign, with a Group Three triumph in York’s Bronte Cup prompting the Wathnan team to purchase her from previous owner David Ward.

She made a promising debut for her new connections when pushing red-hot favourite Estrange all the way in the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock and was being readied for the Lillie Langtry Stakes at next week’s Qatar Goodwood Festival, but her racing career has come to an abrupt end.

Wathnan Racing’s adviser, Richard Brown, said: “Scenic put up a career-best performance last time out and it wasn’t unreasonable to hope for some even greater days ahead, but it’s not to be.

“She will spend some time recuperating before joining the Wathnan broodmare band. She’s one of the best fillies in an exceptional Classic family of broodmares, so the dream now is of big successes with her progeny.”

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.”

‘Different gear’ Almaqam primed for York return

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Ed Walker is preparing to take the wraps off Almaqam in Saturday’s Sky Bet York Stakes.

The four-year-old has been limited to just two starts so far this year, finishing third in the Gordon Richards Stakes on his initial outing before securing a first Group Three success when beating Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May.

While Ombudsman has since gone to win the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and finish a narrow second in the Eclipse, Almaqam has not run subsequently due to his need for a little ease in the ground – but conditions could be right on the Knavesmire this weekend.

Walker said: “I left him in the King George but didn’t feel Ascot was the right track in which to test him over a mile and a half for the first time against the Ballydoyle horses.

“At York the ground should be ideal, as well as the track and the trip. It’s the natural progression into a Group Two and if he wins well, I will throw him into the deep end and take him back there for the Juddmonte.

“I thought 5-4 was quite a punchy price and it mirrors his reputation being bigger than what he’s actually achieved in beating Ombudsman.”

Walker has high expectations for the son of Lope De Vega, who has won three of his eight career starts and counts a Listed triumph on his CV, as well as a couple of Group race places.

The trainer said: “I’ve always thought the world of him as he’s seriously exciting. My hopes and expectations make the nerves kick in as I think he’s very special, and personally I will be very disappointed if he doesn’t win a Group One as he’s got everything you want in a racehorse.

“I’ve tried to be responsible and not to get impatient, and hopefully his big time will be in the autumn as the Irish Champion is a perfect target after which we might look at the Arc. But 10 furlongs is where we are going for now.

“He’s certainly the best I’ve ever had so far, he’s different gear.”

Royal Fixation handed Lowther mission at York

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Royal Fixation will aim to give her owners Opulence Thoroughbreds their first ever Group winner in the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes.

The Ed Walker-trained filly won impressively on her debut at York before giving hot favourite Venetian Sun a big fright in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes.

With Karl Burke sending the winner into Group One company next, that leaves the path clear for Royal Fixation to set the standard on the Knavesmire.

“We’ve never had a Group winner yet and we’re up to a 99 winners, so depending on how our next few results go, it would be quite special if our 100th winner was our first Group winner,” said Opulence’s Edward Brown.

“Royal Fixation is an unbelievable filly who possesses a lot of raw, natural speed and talent, when she came into Ed’s yard everyone was very complimentary about her.

“We headed to Thirsk with high hopes ahead of her debut and she was very professional that day, she even jumped the winning line which I always remember Luca Cumani saying was a good sign as it meant they had plenty left!

“She really settled down after that but it was a bonus to win first time with her as a Palace Pier filly, she is in some of the more forward lots.

“We thought we’d aim high in the Duchess of Cambridge and thought she’d run a strong race but we’d all seen how good Venetian Sun was at Ascot.

“We rode her different, wanting her to settle, which she did, but then you ask yourself if she’d got out quicker would she have got up and won? We’ll never know.

“I echo Ed’s post-race comments though, to get as close as we did to what looks an unbelievable filly was a big effort.

“We’re going to head for the Lowther now, I think the track will suit her and they are talking of Venetian Sun going for a Group One, so we don’t have to worry about her.

“You wouldn’t rule out her getting further but if she runs well in the Lowther, you couldn’t rule out her going for the Cheveley Park. Being by Palace Pier, she could stay further next year but for now we’re concentrating on the Lowther.”

Goodwood assignment pencilled in for Scenic

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Scenic will head to the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood after pushing Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe contender Estrange all the way at Haydock.

Ed Walker’s five-year-old was beaten only a neck by David O’Meara’s stable star when having her first outing for new owners Wathnan Racing in the Group Two Lancashire Oaks, with her handler hailing her consistency.

The duo could clash again in the Yorkshire equivalent on the Knavesmire next month, but first Scenic will head to the Sussex Downs on August 2, as she embarks on what could be the final stages of her career.

“I was thrilled with her and very proud of her, it was a huge run in new ownership,” said Walker.

“She heads to the Lillie Langtry now. I was devastated she was beaten, but Richard Brown (Wathnan’s racing adviser) was delighted as it means she won’t have a penalty at Goodwood.

“She’s a real star and a yard favourite. She’s helped fly the flag for us for a few years and has been seriously consistent since winning the Galtres Stakes at York, it was almost like that was a turning point in her career. I don’t know why, but since then has barely put a foot wrong and if anything is improving.

“I’m excited about her and the three races for her really are the Lillie Langtry, Yorkshire Oaks and Prix de Royallieu. I imagine they will be the last three runs of her career, she’s a star.”

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.

Do Or Do Not aiming to build on Ascot effort at Newmarket

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Although he is the only maiden in the Kingdom of Bahrain July Stakes, Do Or Do Not is out to prove his Royal Ascot second was no fluke at Newmarket on Thursday.

Ed Walker’s son of Space Blues was sent off at odds of 80-1 when leading home the runners on his side of the track in the Coventry Stakes, but is sure to be much shorter in the betting this time, with his handler hoping the youngster can confirm the promise of that huge performance and break his duck.

“It’s a very different track to Ascot and he was doing some very good work late on there, but he’s not short of speed and showed plenty of speed at York before that and he’s a horse who has undoubtedly surprised us,” said Walker.

“He’s a very laid-back horse who is quite hard to assess at home, but he’s fit and well and he looks great, so I hope he can go and back up that Ascot performance.

“He’s got a wonderful temperament which is often half the battle and Ascot was only his third start so he could be able to improve on it and he came out of the Coventry really well, so we’ll see how we go.”

The top of the market for the Group Two is dominated by Charlie Appleby’s Maximized and Aidan O’Brien’s Brussels, who both sidestepped the Royal meeting but have hinted at being potential top notchers in their respective careers to date.

Both head to the July course unbeaten, with the Godolphin candidate seeing the form of his Woodcote win franked by Eve Johnson Houghton’s Epsom runner-up Havana Hurricane in the Windsor Castle at Ascot, while the Ballydoyle raider sprouted wings on his debut to down stablemate and subsequent winner Kansas.

Appleby said on the Godolphin website: “Maximized is two from two, stepping up from his novice to win nicely at Epsom. We gave him a break afterwards, as the plan was always to miss Royal Ascot, and he goes into this in great shape. He is on an upward curve and hopefully the one they all have to beat.”

Maximized in full flow at Epsom
Maximized in full flow at Epsom (Adam Davy/PA)

Johnson Houghton is represented on this occasion by Salisbury scorer Zavateri, who like Paul and Oliver Cole’s taking Goodwood victor Jel Pepper is one from one and now stepping up significantly in grade.

The select field is rounded off by Andrew Balding’s Comical Point, who steps up in trip having not been disgraced when fifth in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.

“He ran in the Norfolk and I think the step up to six furlongs will suit and he will improve a bit for that as he was definitely doing his best work late on,” said Philip Robinson, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail.

“Whether that will be good enough to win a race like this I don’t know, but I do think the six furlongs will help.”

Walker on weather watch for Almaqam target

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Ed Walker has a circle around the last weekend in July on his calendar, as his frustrating wait for suitable conditions with Almaqam continues.

The high-class colt beat subsequent Royal Ascot scorer Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard in May, but the Lambourn handler has had to settle for the role of keen observer during the continuing dry spell, with Almaqam bypassing both the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and last Saturday’s thrilling renewal of the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown due to fast ground.

“I’m just waiting for soft ground really which is a bit frustrating,” said Walker.

“We would have loved to have been a part of the Eclipse, although to watch it was pretty messy and we’re kind of all dressed up with nowhere to go at the moment.”

Walker’s weather watch looks set to continue throughout July, but he is optimistically hoping the end of the month could signal Almaqam’s eagerly-awaited return, with the Sky Bet York Stakes on July 26 or the following day’s Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen in Munich both options at 10 furlongs.

The son of Lope De Vega has also been left in the same weekend’s feature King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, but his handler is inclined to wait until later in the season before stretching out in distance.

Walker added: “We’re looking at running him in the York Stakes which is a Group Two and all being well we could go there, he’s also in a Group One in Germany over 10 furlongs the same weekend and we’ve also left him in the King George, so we’re keeping the options open and tracking the weather.

“I think the King George may be the least likely and I’m not convinced I want to try him first time over a mile and a half at Ascot. I think I’d rather try it on a slightly more conventional flat, galloping track, but we’ll keep the options open.”

Almaqam plans on ice as quick ground scuppers Sandown run

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Almaqam could be rerouted to the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes or given a midsummer break, after being ruled out of this weekend’s Coral-Eclipse at Sandown due to unsuitable ground.

Connections were keen to have a crack at Saturday’s Group One feature, with the four-year-old having impressed over the course and distance when getting the better of the subsequent Prince of Wales’s Stakes victor and Eclipse favourite Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard in late May.

However, with the ground at the Esher circuit still on the quick side, trainer Ed Walker has elected to play it safe and with a line also put through next week’s Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket, Almaqam will either head to Ascot on July 26 or be saved for an autumn campaign.

“It is (frustrating to miss the Eclipse), but it’s out of our hands,” said Walker.

“He won’t go to Newmarket next week. I guess he could possibly go for the King George, but I need to speak to the team and work out whether we go there or give him a break now and keep him fresh for the autumn.

“Everything is on hold at the moment.”

Ombudsman heightening excitement for Walker with Almaqam

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Ed Walker is looking forward to seeing Almaqam return to the track after watching Ombudsman frank the form of the Brigadier Gerard Stakes when dazzling in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Almaqam impressively made all at Sandown to see off John and Thady Gosden’s performer, but with Walker deciding to wait for more suitable ground rather than head to the Royal meeting with his talented four-year-old, the door was left open for Ombudsman to boost the Esher result. which now looks red hot.

“It looked a very strong renewal of the Brigadier Gerard, Ombudsman has come out and confirmed he’s a smart horse and hopefully we can do soon,” said Walker, who enjoyed a tremendous time at the Royal meeting with two winners and Do Or Do Not beaten only by Gstaad in the Coventry Stakes.

“It’s an exciting result to see for us, but you have to remember Sandown was Ombudsman’s first run of the season and he was carrying a 3lb penalty. He loomed up like he was going to be a threat and John and Thady will know more than me, but it felt like he needed the run slightly carrying a penalty on easy ground.

“It is exciting and I think we all felt at Sandown the first two were very smart horses.”

After quick ground scuppered any designs of turning up in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes for Almaqam himself, Walker is now left searching for ideal conditions buoyant he has plenty to look forward to.

Ombudsman was a brilliant winner at Royal Ascot
Ombudsman was a brilliant winner at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

“It’s all ground dependent and we will have him in everything and take our pick,” added Walker on future plans.

“He’ll be in everything at a mile and a quarter, but I wouldn’t rule out going a mile and a half as well. We have put him in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket (July 10) over a mile and a half, so we will see where the ground will suit.”

Noble just Champion for Walker and Shoemark

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Noble Champion provided trainer Ed Walker and jockey Kieran Shoemark with their second Royal Ascot winner in as many days after careering clear of his rivals in the Jersey Stakes.

Having successfully combined with 22-1 shot Never Let Go in Friday’s Sandringham Stakes, Walker and Shoemark teamed up with another relative outsider in Noble Champion, who was 25-1 having struggled to make an impact in Group Three and Listed company this spring.

But stepped back up in trip from six to seven furlongs for this Group Three assignment, the Lope De Vega colt flourished, racing in the slipstream of the pacesetting Spy Chief for much of the way before taking over and pulling three and a quarter lengths clear, despite hanging left late on. Favourite Comanche Brave was just under three further back in third.

“It just hasn’t panned out, he had a setback in January that messed up our prep for the Greenham,” said Walker.

“We thought he was a Guineas horse, we really believed a lot in him. We thought we’d go a sensible route and we went in a conditions race at Goodwood over a mile, there wasn’t much pace. He was keen and he just got it all wrong.

“We brought him back to six, he just shows so much speed at home – we even thought about supplementing him for the Commonwealth Cup because he has so much speed.

“Finally the trainer got it right! He’s as good a work horse as we’ve had, he’s a very impressive horse. He’s very quick with such a high cruising speed, he’s very, very smart.

“He’s driven me mad, I’m guilty of wearing my heart on my sleeve and I tell my owners if I think the horses are good, bad or ugly. I told Simon (Sadler, owner) how much belief I had in this horse, we were gutted he got beaten on debut.

“I said to Simon that if it didn’t work today, then I didn’t know what was going wrong. The ground, track, and trip was all right.”

Shoemark felt the course and distance had suited his mount well, adding: The stiff seven furlongs here at Ascot, with a nice strong pace has really seen him at his best effect. He was in a lovely rhythm and it was just a matter of time to when I pressed go, he really hit the line strong.

“It can be a lonely place in front here, with the grandstand there’s plenty to look at. He wouldn’t have been in front a lot on his own before, so he was entitled to be a little bit green, but he’s very talented.

“The yard really is flying and there is a lovely team at home at Ed Walker’s. It’s a really impressive operation. I feel very fortunate to have partnered some good horses this week.”

Spy Chief’s rider Robert Havlin was pleased with the 20-1 shot’s effort having run just three times previously.

He said: “A great run, he’s an inexperienced horse coming from a novice win at Yarmouth. He’s still learning and still needs to relax a bit. I think the more racing he does, the better he will get.”

Donnacha O’Brien said of his third-placed runner: “He ran OK, I don’t think he had any excuses, the first two pulled well clear. This is a tough place, any time you hit the board, it’s not a bad result.”