Murtagh outlines plans for Ursa & Diamond Johnny Murtagh has high hopes for useful stayers Ursa Major and Royal Diamond this term. Ursa Major made rapid progress through the ranks last term, graduating from handicap company to win a Curragh Group Three before finishing fourth in the St Leger at Doncaster on his final start. He has not run since that outing in September but Murtagh, the horse's rider and assistant to trainer Tommy Carmody, is expecting him to return to action soon, with the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan on May 19th a possible starting point along with the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown on June 7th. "We think he's a Cup horse," said Murtagh. "We'll probably start him off in the mile-and-five race at Navan or the Saval Beg in Leopardstown. "We think he's done well over the winter. Hopefully he'll be competitive in all the big staying races this summer." Royal Diamond was another to make rapid strides last term, rounding off his campaign with a surprise victory in the Irish St Leger. The seven-year-old ran twice without success in Dubai over the winter months but Murtagh believes an outing in next month's Yorkshire Cup at York could suit. "Maybe he could run in the Yorkshire Cup on May 15th," Murtagh told At The Races. "He likes York and a mile and six looks his ideal trip. Hopefully we can make it there."
