Almaqam returns to the scene of his finest hour so far

Ed Walker is relishing returning Almaqam to Sandown on Friday, as he begins what is anticipated will be an exciting campaign in the bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes.

The son of Lope De Vega lowered the colours of Kikkuli in good style the Heron Stakes at the Esher track last summer before going on to compete in deep waters, and his Lambourn handler believes the best of him is still to come as he embarks on his four-year-old season.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing him run and I think the ground will be perfect and his prep has gone really well,” said Walker.

“Like many trainers we’ve really missed out on getting these horses on the grass, so I don’t think I’m alone there, and he’s a big horse, so I do think he will improve for the run, even though I think he is ready and he’s a very exciting horse.

“The stiff 10 furlongs will be ideal and he’s obviously won at the track before, albeit over a mile in the Heron last year, and we have very high hopes for him. Let’s hope he can get off to a good start.”

Alamaqam would go on to perform respectably in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and in two visits to France following his win at Sandown, bumping into an on-song Economics in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano and denied just a head by Brian Meehan’s ill-fated Jayarebe at ParisLongchamp in October.

Walker, however, is inclined to blame himself for the first two of those defeats when his star performer encountered lightning quick conditions, both on home soil and the continent, and he is confident, given his preferred going, the colt can mix it with the very best.

He explained: “At Ascot and Deauville last season it was very fast ground and I messed up there – he really wasn’t happy at Deauville on that faster ground. He closed the gap significantly with Jayarebe on softer ground at Longchamp and I think he would do the same against Economics on less quick ground.

“I think he’s fine on good ground and even good to firm, but both Ascot and Deauville were very, very fast and I’m sure there is a lot more to come from him this season.

“It’s a very competitive race with some good horses in there with some excellent form, but we will see and he’s in good order and we will hope for the best. Hopefully it is the first run of a big year.”

See The Fire performed with credit in a host of top contests last season and represents the on-fire Andrew Balding stable, while William Haggas’ evergreen Al Aasy showed he was still a force last season and makes his return in this.

John and Thady Gosden have won this twice in the last three years and will saddle Peace Man, with Karl Burke relying on Winter Derby hero Royal Champion, who is unbeaten in two starts for the Spigot Lodge handler.

The field is complete by Charlie Appleby’s duo of Ancient Wisdom and Arabian Crown, who both bring match fitness and respectable form to the table, with the latter winning the Classic Trial on this card 12 months ago.