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Trainer Ed Walker considers the risks and rewards of entering star horse Almaqam in the Irish Champions Stakes before targeting the season finale at Ascot.
The horse racing world is turning its attention toward the prestigious Irish Champions Festival hosted at Leopardstown, where the stakes are higher than ever. This year, the event marks a significant milestone as it features seven Group One prizes for the first time in its history, with total prize money exceeding five million euros.
The crown jewel of the festival is the Royal Bahrain Irish Champions Stakes, a feature race boasting a staggering purse of 1.25 million euros. Beyond the main event, the festival also includes the newly promoted Golden Fleece Stakes, a nine-furlong contest designed for two-year-olds. This specific race carries a poignant history, named in honor of the legendary 1982 Epsom Derby winner who remained undefeated in four starts before his untimely death shortly after retiring to stud.
Much of the anticipation surrounding the festival centers on whether English trainer Ed Walker will decide to enter his star performer, Almaqam, in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champions Stakes. Almaqam has already proven his caliber on Irish soil, having secured a victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh back in May. His most recent outing at York in the Juddmonte International was a heart-wrenching affair, as he was denied victory in the final stride by Item.
Despite the loss, Almaqam showed immense strength by finishing three and a half lengths ahead of Constitution River. However, the decision to race again so soon is a complex one for Walker. The horse effectively emptied his tank during that grueling effort at York, making the final fifty yards a difficult watch for those observing. The primary concern for the training team is the timing and the ground conditions.
Almaqam is a large horse who requires soft ground to perform at his peak, and the recent end of a two-month drought has made the prospect of an Irish trip more appealing. Walker is weighing the risk of the horse being flat if he runs at Leopardstown and then attempts to back it up with the Champion Stakes at Ascot in October.
Walker admits that the safe and boring option would be to bypass Leopardstown entirely to ensure the horse is perfectly prepared for Ascot, which remains the primary target of the season. He describes the possibility of running in Ireland as being greedy, acknowledging that while the horse is remarkably good when conditions are right, he cannot afford to ruin his chances for the season finale. While Almaqam remains a question mark, other contenders are stepping into the spotlight.
Constitution River stands as the general nine-to-four favorite to provide Aidan O'Brien with his fourteenth success in the race, with stablemate Benvenuto Cellini also appearing as a strong contender in the betting markets. With the future plans for the Juddmonte International winner Item remaining uncertain, and other stars like Ombudsman and Calandagan likely being reserved for later global prizes, the path may be clearer for the Ballydoyle contingent.
Meanwhile, the Golden Fleece Stakes will see the entry of Darkness Falls, who recently delivered an impressive seven-length victory in a Curragh maiden. O'Brien has praised the Camelot offspring as a beautiful mover with significant class, suggesting that ground conditions will not hinder his performance. The racing action extends beyond Leopardstown and into other regions and disciplines.
Patrick Mullins, widely regarded as the most successful amateur jockey in racing history, is traveling to Epsom to seek further glory in the amateur version of the Derby. Having already won the race in 2013 and 2015, Mullins is now paired with Gordon Grey, a horse currently under the care of trainer George Baker.
Additionally, the UK bank-holiday Monday brings jumps action to Downpatrick, where Rightnowfolks is expected to compete in the concluding handicap chase. After a successful August with wins at Wexford and Tramore, the horse is considered well-treated and possesses strong form at the course. Simultaneously, the flat action at Roscommon features Earls, a stalwart performer trained by Gavin Cromwell, who is aiming for a third victory in the seven-furlong handicap, having already won the event in 2022 and last year
Horse Racing Leopardstown Irish Champions Festival Almaqam Aidan O'brien
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