Mark Walford December Stable Tour

It has been a fantastic year for Mark Walford and the Cornborough conjurer has worked his magic on the Ursa squad once again, delivering six winners for us in 2022.

They include a double for Ghadbbaan and a landmark Sunday Series win for Candescence - while he fancies adding to that tally between now and New Year’s Eve.

With action over the jumps hotting up once again, Racing Manager Craig Talbot visited Mark to see where we are with our team

Ashington

He’s had three runs for us now over obstacles and already given his owners a great time – Charlie Hall day at Wetherby, Cheltenham and then he bumped into a good one at Leicester the last time. He went very well and the next run will be on Boxing Day at Wetherby and it looks like a race that is made for him really. He will be back over hurdles – he can do fences fine – but he’s just a super hurdler and this race looks a great opportunity. He doesn’t want a slog and he came out of his last race in great form. He’s a very easy horse to manage and lovely to ride at home, everyone who sits on him says they enjoy him. We love keeping him fresh and it’s keeping him interested. You’re best having him 95 per cent fit and right in his head. He will win one, we just need things to drop right for him on the day. He will run his race on Boxing Day and if things fall right he will have a chance of winning.

Bay Dream Believer

Tom (Midgley) rode her for the first time this morning and he really liked her. As soon as you bring her out the stable she wants to go fast. She wants to do everything. She is a real trier and she will enjoy it here. She has been on the gallops and Annie her normal rider was delighted with her. She is not going to take a lot of work to get ready. I could not be happier with her and she is about three weeks away from a run. I would probably favour Wolverhampton first time out as they go quick there to start with which will suit her. Newcastle and Southwell would be fine too. She will be versatile. She hasn’t put a foot wrong since arriving. She is a good athletic filly. She is not big, but I wouldn’t rule out jumping.

Buford

He’s back out tomorrow at Newcastle second time after a wind op and he is at a trip he will like and Sam James is in the saddle. His work has been good and his breathing has been holding up well. He was ready for a run there and needed it. He was ready to run but that will have brought him on nicely. We have got plenty of work into him since and he hasn’t missed a day. He will probably be a massive price, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him run into a place. I want to see a decent run and I think we will. I have no reason from what I have seen at home as to why he won’t run well. Then we will look at going back over hurdles where there is decent ground. We will mix it up and he will be a good one for handicap hurdles in the spring.

Carrarea

He has finished his box rest now and was out for the first time this morning. He moved well. He will have two weeks of walking now twice a day and build him up like that. Then he will be checked by the vet to make sure everyone is happy and then it will be getting back to it and getting him ready. He will probably go off favourite whenever he is back. There will be good races in Spring and Summer with some nice prize money where he could run very well. He’s a proper horse and I am looking forward to it.

Diamant Sur Canape

He’s been training well and everyone who sits on him says he’s not a bad horse. He just needs experience and plenty of it. He has a couple of options over Christmas at Market Rasen and Newcastle. If all fails getting in there, we may just stick him in a seller at Leicester to give him experience. We don’t want him being balloted out as he needs the racing experience so that may be a way to get that run into him.

Event of Sivola

I am really happy with him, he came out of his 4m win really well. He won easily to the eye but he did have a hard race. I am really happy with his work and we will go to Catterick next on the 28th. It’s 3m2f as there’s not many races at 4m for him. You could say he’s done his job for the year, but if we keep things right for him I think we could see him go in again this season.

Fenna’s Loss

He’s a totally different horse now to when we got him. He was skin and bones and is now a totally different animal. He’s done nothing but improve and his run last time delighted me. It was a shame Hexham was off as he looked to have a right chance in that and we are now looking forward to him running on Boxing Day at Wetherby in a 0-110. He will have near enough top weight, but he’s in good form and I will be disappointed if he is not bang there. I would like to think he’s a 115 horse and this will give him a massive chance if he runs to that. He will only get better. He’s a proper jumps bred horse. He will come back next autumn and be a right chaser next season. We have a lot of good years ahead with him – I will be disappointed if he didn’t win this season though.

Moonlight Glory

We probably haven’t got things right with her this season so far. Hindsight is a fine thing though and we have learned a lot. We want to give her a go right handed next and we will probably go to Catterick on the 28th. It’s a conditional jockeys race and hopefully Tom (Midgley) can ride again. We have had no hold ups and I think while I have been disappointed with her this season, she has had some valid excuses. She will want to be showing something next time, something to show us we are on the right road.

Ghadbbaan is on his winter holiday