Williams has high hopes for Aqwaam next year

Ian Williams will target major staying handicaps next season with Aqwaam following his narrow defeat in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

Having been off the track since finishing sixth in the Chester Cup in May, the six-year-old belied his odds of 33-1 with an excellent run in defeat, beaten just half a length.

Aqwaam passed the post in third, but was later promoted to the runner-up spot after on-the-day winner Alphonse Le Grande was disqualified due to his rider Jamie Powell breaking the whip rules.

With opportunities to run again this term thin on the ground, Williams will now put his charge away for the winter before bringing him back for a 2025 campaign.

“I thought it was a very creditable performance off the back of his good run in the Chester Cup earlier in the year. The horse is progressing in staying races and we look forward to seeing him next season,” said the trainer.

“There’s not a lot left for him now, so we’ll probably pop him away and aim for next year’s Chester Cup.

“He had a small issue after Chester this year, which made it nip and tuck for us in terms of getting to the Cesarewitch. We managed it and he ran exceptionally creditably.

“We knew he was capable, but after suffering a small injury after Chester it was very difficult to know what to expect. He ran very well and there’s a couple of decent pots for him next season.”