- Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar takes place from Tuesday 29 July to Saturday 2 August.
- Video interview with E Walker available to download via WeTransfer: ED WALKER QGF PREVIEW
- Video interview with E Walker available to embed via YouTube: ED WALKER QGF PREVIEW
- Tickets are available at Goodwood.com.
Trainer Ed Walker has enjoyed a series of Stakes race successes this season and heads to next week’s Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar with a strong contingent.
Reflecting on the importance of the meeting, Walker said: “The Qatar Goodwood Festival is a highlight of the season along with Royal Ascot and the Juddmonte Ebor Festival.
“The great thing about flat racing is we do roll from festival to festival, but Goodwood is a real highlight, a really important meeting for us and all trainers. It’s a tough place to go and win races, but we take a strong team this year and we hope to be well represented.”
Walker was originally set to campaign top filly Scenic, who had been expected to line up in the Group 2 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes. However, a setback in training has unfortunately ruled her out of the Festival and brought about her retirement from racing.
A consistent and progressive performer for the yard, Scenic delivered a memorable runner-up effort in the Group 3 Lancashire Oaks on debut for Wathnan Racing and was a Listed winner at York last season. Her retirement marks the end of a promising career, and she now begins a new chapter off the track.
While Scenic is no longer a contender, Walker will still be well represented across the week, starting with the progressive Noble Champion and Ten Bob Tony heading to the Group 2 HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes.
Noble Champion was an impressive winner of the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, the form of which has since been boosted.
Speaking on the Ascot performance, Walker said: “A few people thought it was a weak renewal [Jersey Stakes], and slightly knocked it, but I think it’s been backed up since then, it’s looking like a good Jersey now.
“We’ve always had huge belief in Noble Champion. The way he put the race to bed, I think it’s slightly irrelevant what was behind him.
“On his day when everything’s right, he’s very, very good. It’s quite hard to get everything right with him, but I think when he gets it right, he’s an exceptional horse.”
Looking ahead to next week, he said: “Noble Champion has been flying since Ascot. The problem with him is keeping a lid on him, he’s a ball of energy. I've tried to freshen him up best I can, give him a break without him getting too fresh, but he’s well, he’s ready to go.”
Jockey Kieran Shoemark, who partnered him to victory at Ascot, added: “Noble Champion I think will be suited by Goodwood. He’s run over a mile there before and possibly didn’t quite stay. I think a fast-run Lennox over seven furlongs could really be to his liking.
“Although in the Jersey he was around a 25/1 shot on the day, Ed had always believed he was a top-level horse, and he showed that to the world on the day. He travelled with such ease, and he had an explosive turn of foot. He’s really exciting heading into the Lennox, I’m really looking forward to riding him - his career is only just starting.”
Ten Bob Tony, owned by TBT Racing, is also a possible contender but remains ground dependent.
Providing an update, Walker said: “Ten Bob Tony loves a bit of ease in the ground and goes well fresh. If it’s faster than good, we won’t be going to the Lennox.
“It was a huge performance to come back and beat Kinross at Haydock [Group 3 John of Gaunt Stakes], and he's obviously a very talented horse.
“He’s a real yard favourite, he’s completely chilled, a real kind, straightforward horse to deal with.”
Ground conditions will also determine whether sprint pair CELANDINE and BALMORAL LADY take their place in the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes.
Celandine, a Group 2 Lowther winner last season, returned from a setback to finish third in the Group 3 Summer Stakes at York.
Explaining the challenges this year, Walker said: “It’s been a very frustrating year with her so far. The plan was to go to Newmarket for the [Listed] Kilvington as a prep for the Commonwealth Cup.
“The form from the Lowther was obviously rock solid in the Commonwealth Cup with Time For Sandals winning, so it was pretty heartbreaking being sidelined with a throat infection which dragged on and on.
“We got her back for York in the Summer Stakes, she ran a big race. She was hassled all the way, which wasn’t ideal. She didn’t get the kind of easy lead she likes but still battled on well to finish third and proved that she’s trained on and she’s back.
“She had a good blow, and she’ll come on a lot for that run, so wherever she goes next, I think she’ll be a danger in a wide-open sprint division.”
Walker continued: “I’m not afraid to bring her back to five [furlongs]. She ran a solid race in the [Group 3] Molecomb [at last year’s Qatar Goodwood Festival, finishing fourth], but she was drawn away from the rest of the field and had to race on her own, which wasn’t ideal. I think if she runs in the King George at Goodwood, she’ll run a big race, but again, she needs fast ground.”
Balmoral Lady, winner of the Listed Achilles Stakes, could also line up. Her form received a notable boost when runner-up No Half Measures landed the Group 1 July Cup.
Walker said: “Balmoral Lady goes on any ground really, but she’s at her best with a bit of ease in the ground, so I’d be tempted to save her for the autumn if the ground is quick.
“If there’s a bit of give in it, good ground or softer, I think we’ll take our chance, but otherwise, there are plenty of options for her later in the season.”
-ENDS-