Walker considers Leopardstown for Almaqam ahead of Ascot Champions Stakes bid

Enhancing last year’s Qatar Racing Champion Stakes third will be the main aim for Almaqam after his agonising Juddmonte International Stakes defeat at York – but Ed Walker is still to decide whether to be “greedy” and take in a trip to Ireland en route to Ascot.

It looked like the five-year-old would supplement the Tattersalls Gold Cup title he picked up earlier in the season with another Group One prize on the Knavesmire before being thwarted late by Item and the son of Lope De Vega has the option of heading to Leopardstown for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes on September 12.

However, Almaqam’s primary objective for the latter stages of the season is another shot at the British Champions Day feature, a race he was an honourable third in behind Calandagan and Ombudsman in 2025.

Walker said: “It’s so difficult to know what to do next as he emptied his tank at York and the last 50 yards was a hard watch.

“He put everything into that race and has come out of it really well, but it’s just a question of do you back up three weeks later at Leopardstown and run the risk of him being flat. If he is flat then you’ve also potentially screwed up both Leopardstown and Ascot.

“The safe and boring option is to just prepare him to Ascot and we’re chatting to the team a lot and I’m not sure what his plans are after Ascot and into next year, but Ascot is his main target and it’s just if we decide to be greedy along the way or not.”

Owned by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, Almaqam has always been held in the highest regard by Walker and his team.

However, underfoot conditions and the search for his preferred cut in the ground has proven a constant headache for his handler in the last two seasons.

Walker added: “The two who beat him at Ascot last year, Calandagan and Ombudsman, don’t sound like certainties to be there and you’d like to think he will get his ground on Champions Day.

“We’ve had the two driest summers ever which has been frustrating and made it hard to campaign him as he’s big horse that you are trying to keep fit and not wanting to hammer him for the sake of it.

“It’s a shame really as he showed at York when he does get his conditions he’s pretty damn good.”