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Deauville and Haydock targets for July Cup winner.

Ed Walker has confirmed the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville and the Betfair Sprint Cup as the next two likely targets for Starman, as long as the ground is suitable.

Starman 's only defeat in six starts came on soft ground at Ascot in October – but he showed what a class act he is with a powerful performance to open his Group One account in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket.

The rain stayed away to allow Starman to strut his stuff after heavy downpours had forced Walker to withdraw him from the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Walker is now hoping the weather will be kind when the Maurice de Gheest comes around on August 8 and the Sprint Cup on September 4.

"The calendar is not that generous with opportunities for him so the next logical step would be the Maurice de Gheest in Deauville and then the Haydock Sprint Cup. At the moment those are his main next targets," Walker told Sky Sports Racing.

"You can get soft ground at Deauville and obviously at Haydock as well, so we're just going to play it by ear. We'll see what the weather is doing and see how he is, but it's great to have a big one in the bag. It's great to have a horse like that.

"The July Cup was a really exciting race going into it, and to be a part of. We were still very progressive and unexposed. It's great we're still unexposed now."