Mark Walford June Stable Tour

Our eight strong squad with Mark Walford were basking in the Yorkshire sun on Tuesday morning when Ursa Major Racing Manager Craig Talbot dropped by for a visit. 

With Mark in blistering form and 16 winners to his name since mid March, the horses are looking exceptional.

Here’s what he told Craig.

Ghadbbaan

He has been declared for Newmarket on Thursday and Tom Marquand takes the ride and it looks a very exciting opportunity. The big wide, long straight of Newmarket is exactly what will play to his strengths and he only has six opponents. We have learned to keep him away from tight tracks like Catterick and only take him somewhere with a big, long straight. You don’t get much of a longer straight than Newmarket - there will be no excuses track-wise. He seems in good form at home. The last run at Musselburgh was not a disaster, he was only beaten fourth lengths despite the finishing position and a few bits went wrong. We wouldn’t go back there. He did stick on so well though that day. If he is in the same sort of form, which I think he is, it looks a chance for him to run a big race. He is a good, honest horse and he is consistent. We haven’t thought about hurdles yet as he is running so well on the flat, but it is an option on the back burner for some point down the line.

Fenna’s Loss

He has come out of Sunday’s win very well. He did it all so easily. We were really pleased with his performance. He did it with the minimum of fuss, ears pricked all the way and he just cantered around. He ran a little green until he got to the rail and it was a great performance with a lot to look forward to. He has a lot of maturing to do physically and should get better with age. He jumps well at home and we have so many options with him now. We won’t rush him back and will have a look for about a month’s time but he is a very exciting prospect.

Candescence

She still has her bandage on from the injury she sustained at York, but that will be coming off soon. She has had staples in and has just been in her box after that last race. She is due to start light walking today, the stitches will be out on Friday and it will be back to business as normal for her. There is a possible race on July 15th for her at Newmarket or Hamilton but we will need rain for her before then as it is dry everywhere at the moment. We are very happy with her and she is happy too, it was just a skin wound. She must have done it coming out of the stalls as there was nowhere else in the race it could have happened and she couldn’t do it to herself. She will be back as good as ever and we want her to keep running into autumn so if these things are going to happen they may as well happen now.

Battle Angel

She is looking the best she has ever looked. The best thing we ever did with her was send her swimming with the England’s. If we hadn’t we wouldn’t be where we are now with her. She’s put on loads of weight and we are doing plenty of work with her now getting her race fit. We are aiming for July 2 at Beverley. She will need her first run, but I am very happy with how she is progressing. A nice summer with her would be perfect and we can look at hurdles again at some stage too. She wants 2m on a speedy track, somewhere like Market Rasen or Cartmel. Lots to look forward to with her and we can move forward.

Moonlight Glory

She has been scanned and it is good news. She is coming on as well as we could have hoped for and we will up her walking for the next 10 days. We will then give her a month in the field and start training her. She won’t be ready for October but we want her peaking for November, December, January when the ground is ready for her. Getting out in the field will do her the world of good. She is walking two hours a day at the moment and after her two seconds she should be a winner next season. Deep ground, hurdles or fences it all comes alike to her, she will be great fun this winter.

Buford

Forget about his last run, everything went wrong for him that day. He had an easy day after the last run but he is none the worst and he could be hurdling in two or three weeks. Some arena jumping and a spin up at Malton and he will be good to go. He is a big, sound horse, very strong, hurdling will be right up his street and lots of fun is to be had with him. We have a strong group of young hurdlers to go ahead with. Summer tracks will be fine for this lad, he is not slow.

Diamant Sur Canape

He is out on his holiday as he was running into May. He will be back in the end of July. Elaine is looking after him and doing a great job. We are pleased - one more run for a handicap mark and he will be much better and stronger this year. Everyone who has sat on him says he is a nice horse. He’s just weak. He will be back a different horse.

Event of Sivola

He is on his holiday - until today! He is coming back in because we want to run him in the Durham National and he will need a race before that. That race is October 16 so he wants to be back in now, he gets big in the field. He looks great, he just gets big quick. I am very keen to get him to the Durham National and he won first time out last year. We will go down the staying route with him this year, they go a stride slower and he can get in a rhythm, it may bring some improvement out in him too.