Long-range plan can come off for Walker

Lambourn James Burn

ED WALKER’S long wait for a Group 1 could come to an end on Saturday when Starman

threatens to steal the show in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Backward as a youngster, he has developed into a fine, imposing sort and has barely put a foot wrong in his career.

The four-year-old was unraced at this stage last year, but made big strides to win his first three races - including one at Listed level - before he failed to fire at Ascot on Champions Day. However, conditions were atrocious that day and the son of Dutch Art can be forgiven for his effort.

A winter on his back was always going to help Starman, who made a smooth return in the Duke of York last month and should be primed for Saturday as that race and then this weekend have been a long-range plan.

Blessed with a good temperament, the promising colt ticks plenty of boxes and, granted a sound surface, looks a big player.

The decision to supplement Mutasaabeq

for the 2,000 Guineas did not pay off, but he could make up for that in the Jersey Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

He was not exactly disgraced though, beaten just under six lengths after being drawn 12, while the first, second and third came from stalls four, two and three, so that may have been against him. It is also hard to forget how impressive he was at Newmarket in April and he has thrilled connections at home recently.

Another of the yard’s runners to appeal is Equality, who is engaged in the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes on the Friday of the royal meeting. Long held in high regard, he could not have won any easier at Wolverhampton in the spring and has been kept for this, presumably because his team thought a mark of 88 was worth protecting.

He has a good mind and might even make his mark at Group level one day, so expect him to figure in this.

That also applies to Get Ahead in Wednesday’s Queen Mary, a race trainer Clive Cox landed with Heartache in 2017.

Cox has a fine team of juveniles and this has been a big target since she won at Ascot at the start of May. She is a filly the ace trainer thinks plenty of.

Also worth noting

Tasman Bay a(Sir Mark Todd) in the 3.05 at Ascot on Friday

Supremacy (Clive Cox) in the 3.40 at Ascot on Friday