Upper Lambourn handler directs youngsters towards the Ebor meeting
Ed Walker is preparing a small but select team for next week’s Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York, with two-year-olds featuring prominently among his entries following encouraging recent form at Ascot.
Never Enough set for Gimcrack bid
The No Nay Never colt Never Enough is the primary juvenile prospect in Walker’s plans. The colt progressed from a promising debut at Windsor to an authoritative six-furlong maiden victory at Ascot, and connections appear minded to test him at Group level in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes on Friday.
Walker has indicated that Never Enough has taken a step forward from his first start and is showing further development, making the Gimcrack his likely autumn target should preparations continue to go to plan.
Alfred Wallace and nursery options
Another Ascot winner, Alfred Wallace, is under consideration for the opening-day Tattersalls Acomb Stakes (Group 3). The Dubawi colt landed the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes over seven furlongs with a late surge and the Acomb is among the options being weighed up at Kingsdown Stables.
Walker also has a juvenile in handicaps on his radar: The Ginger Kid is set for a seven-furlong nursery during the meeting, where he may meet the filly Bymiddaytomorrow among his rivals.
Senior performers remain conditional on ground
Among Walker’s older horses there are tentative plans for Almaqam in the Juddmonte International and Ten Bob Tony in the Group 1 City of York Stakes, though both entries hinge on likely ground conditions. Almaqam is thought to prefer some give in the turf and may need softer underfoot footing to be fully competitive at the highest level.
Ten Bob Tony, who surprised on seasonal reappearance earlier in the summer and then produced a solid crack at top-class mile company, is more likely to be left at a mile unless the prevailing conditions favour a return to seven furlongs.
Staying options for Miss Alpilles
Miss Alpilles, runner-up in the William Hill Brontë Cup, is also under consideration for the Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup (Group 2) later in the week. Connections see York as a track that has suited her in the past and are monitoring the ground to determine whether she can be aimed at the staying contest.
Festival prospects shaped by weather
Overall, Walker’s plans for the Ebor Festival remain adaptable, with the prevailing weather a decisive factor in final declarations. Several of his likely runners carry entries across the week, giving the trainer and his team options should the surface at York turn out to be quicker or kinder than expected.
With a number of promising juveniles and a handful of senior performers to follow, Walker’s string will be watched closely by racegoers and festival regulars as final declarations are made ahead of the Knavesmire’s showcase week.
