Mary aiming for Ascot honours

Tom Dascombe is confident Don't Tell Mary will give a good account of herself in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot on Wednesday week.

The daughter of Starcraft turned in a hugely impressive debut victory at Bath a month ago before following up in similar style in the Hilary Needler Trophy at Beverley.

That success earned her a quote of 9-2 favourite for next week's Group Three heat and her Lambourn handler believes there could be even more to come.

"She's very well and as Beverley was only her second run, there is always a possibility she could improve again," said Dascombe.

"She will have learnt a lot that day. Clearly things didn't go the way we expected them to at Beverley, but she still managed to win so we're very happy with that.

"She won on firm ground at Bath and seems pretty uncomplicated and one would hope she must have every chance at Ascot.

"It's going to be a nervous week for me and the owner but as long as we get her there in the best possible condition we can, we've done our job."

Dascombe also had news of another smart juvenile in Walkingonthemoon, beaten just a neck in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom on Derby day.

"He ran a great race and obviously it's unfortunate he got beat, but I think it proves he wants a bit easier ground than he faced at Ascot earlier in the year," the trainer continued.

"He's a lovely horse, really genuine and we will try to find another race for him. He might go for a race in Milan in a couple of weeks, but that would depend on the ground."