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‘Different gear' Almaqam primed for York return

‘Different gear' Almaqam primed for York return

Rhyl Journala day ago
The four-year-old has been limited to just two starts so far this year, finishing third in the Gordon Richards Stakes on his initial outing before securing a first Group Three success when beating Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May.
While Ombudsman has since gone to win the Prince of Wales's Stakes and finish a narrow second in the Eclipse, Almaqam has not run subsequently due to his need for a little ease in the ground – but conditions could be right on the Knavesmire this weekend.
Walker said: 'I left him in the King George but didn't feel Ascot was the right track in which to test him over a mile and a half for the first time against the Ballydoyle horses.
'At York the ground should be ideal, as well as the track and the trip. It's the natural progression into a Group Two and if he wins well, I will throw him into the deep end and take him back there for the Juddmonte.
'I thought 5-4 was quite a punchy price and it mirrors his reputation being bigger than what he's actually achieved in beating Ombudsman.'
Walker has high expectations for the son of Lope De Vega, who has won three of his eight career starts and counts a Listed triumph on his CV, as well as a couple of Group race places.
The trainer said: 'I've always thought the world of him as he's seriously exciting. My hopes and expectations make the nerves kick in as I think he's very special, and personally I will be very disappointed if he doesn't win a Group One as he's got everything you want in a racehorse.
'I've tried to be responsible and not to get impatient, and hopefully his big time will be in the autumn as the Irish Champion is a perfect target after which we might look at the Arc. But 10 furlongs is where we are going for now.
'He's certainly the best I've ever had so far, he's different gear.'
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The Lambourn handler is enjoying an excellent season, highlighted by multiple Group-race victories thanks to the exploits of not only Noble Champion but also the likes of Almaqam – who is bound of this weekend's York Stakes – Mgheera, Scenic and Ten Bob Tony. Walker is preparing several high-class operators for various races on the Sussex Downs and is hopeful of adding to his hitherto meagre tally at the track's feature meeting of the year. Ed Walker is lining up a strong team for Goodwood (PA) Speaking at a Goodwood-organised press visit at his yard on Tuesday, the trainer said: 'Numerically we are not flying along, it just seems that way as we received a lot of good publicity following a couple of high-profile winners. 'The last month or so has been a bit bread and butter and also frustrating as we've had a shed load of seconds and thirds in the last fortnight. 'In our number of winners we are a bit down on last year, so the truth is we are making headlines but not adding to our total – and to date I've only had one winner at the big Goodwood meeting.' Noble Champion, a surprise but impressive winner of the Jersey at the Royal meeting last month, is one of two Walker-trained entries for the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes on July 29, along with his John of Gaunt Stakes scorer Ten Bob Tony. Ed Walker is preparing his horses for Goodwood (PA) However, with both horses in the same ownership, they are unlikely to lock horns. Of Noble Champion, Walker said: 'He needs a good, even gallop like the one he got from Spy Chief in the Jersey, and that horse went on to run a solid race in the July Cup. 'My horse thumped Spy Chief at Ascot and we're buzzing about him. He's a very exciting horse. 'We also have Ten Bob Tony in the Lennox, but Noble Champion is more likely to go as he's OK on the better ground and is in flying form.' Scenic won the Group Three Bronte Cup at York on her penultimate start before pushing red-hot favourite Estrange all the way in Haydock's Lancashire Oaks. The five-year-old, who was purchased by the powerful Wathnan Racing team prior to her neck defeat on Merseyside, is also set to be part of Walker's Goodwood-bound battalion. Scenic (left) pushed Estrange all the way at Haydock (Nigel French for The Jockey Club) He added: 'Scenic ran a massive race in the Lancashire Oaks and is heading for the Lillie Langtry. 'She didn't get the credit she deserved in a muddling race at Haydock and I'm happy to take on the winner again. I think she will run to a higher rating in the Yorkshire Oaks than at Goodwood.' Other planned contenders for the trainer include Celandine, who ran a race full of promise on her return from 10 months off the track when third in York's Summer Stakes recently, and the Coventry and July Stakes runner-up Do Or Do Not. 'Celandine and Balmoral Lady are both in the King George Stakes and at this point it looks more like Celandine will go there as she wants it (the ground) like a road. She has bags of speed, but just got hassled by Rage Of Bamby at York last time,' said Walker. 'The owner of Do Or Do Not is very keen to take him to the Vintage Stakes and that's the plan as it looks like he's crying out for seven furlongs. 'He's bred to be a fun horse but he's very good, and deserves to win one of these Group races.'

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The Lambourn handler is enjoying an excellent season, highlighted by multiple Group-race victories thanks to the exploits of not only Noble Champion but also the likes of Almaqam – who is bound of this weekend's York Stakes – Mgheera, Scenic and Ten Bob Tony. Walker is preparing several high-class operators for various races on the Sussex Downs and is hopeful of adding to his hitherto meagre tally at the track's feature meeting of the year. Speaking at a Goodwood-organised press visit at his yard on Tuesday, the trainer said: 'Numerically we are not flying along, it just seems that way as we received a lot of good publicity following a couple of high-profile winners. 'The last month or so has been a bit bread and butter and also frustrating as we've had a shed load of seconds and thirds in the last fortnight. 'In our number of winners we are a bit down on last year, so the truth is we are making headlines but not adding to our total – and to date I've only had one winner at the big Goodwood meeting.' Noble Champion, a surprise but impressive winner of the Jersey at the Royal meeting last month, is one of two Walker-trained entries for the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes on July 29, along with his John of Gaunt Stakes scorer Ten Bob Tony. However, with both horses in the same ownership, they are unlikely to lock horns. Of Noble Champion, Walker said: 'He needs a good, even gallop like the one he got from Spy Chief in the Jersey, and that horse went on to run a solid race in the July Cup. 'My horse thumped Spy Chief at Ascot and we're buzzing about him. He's a very exciting horse. 'We also have Ten Bob Tony in the Lennox, but Noble Champion is more likely to go as he's OK on the better ground and is in flying form.' Scenic won the Group Three Bronte Cup at York on her penultimate start before pushing red-hot favourite Estrange all the way in Haydock's Lancashire Oaks. The five-year-old, who was purchased by the powerful Wathnan Racing team prior to her neck defeat on Merseyside, is also set to be part of Walker's Goodwood-bound battalion. He added: 'Scenic ran a massive race in the Lancashire Oaks and is heading for the Lillie Langtry. 'She didn't get the credit she deserved in a muddling race at Haydock and I'm happy to take on the winner again. I think she will run to a higher rating in the Yorkshire Oaks than at Goodwood.' Other planned contenders for the trainer include Celandine, who ran a race full of promise on her return from 10 months off the track when third in York's Summer Stakes recently, and the Coventry and July Stakes runner-up Do Or Do Not. 'Celandine and Balmoral Lady are both in the King George Stakes and at this point it looks more like Celandine will go there as she wants it (the ground) like a road. She has bags of speed, but just got hassled by Rage Of Bamby at York last time,' said Walker. 'The owner of Do Or Do Not is very keen to take him to the Vintage Stakes and that's the plan as it looks like he's crying out for seven furlongs. 'He's bred to be a fun horse but he's very good, and deserves to win one of these Group races.'

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