Almaqam plans on ice as quick ground scuppers Sandown run

Almaqam could be rerouted to the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes or given a midsummer break, after being ruled out of this weekend’s Coral-Eclipse at Sandown due to unsuitable ground.

Connections were keen to have a crack at Saturday’s Group One feature, with the four-year-old having impressed over the course and distance when getting the better of the subsequent Prince of Wales’s Stakes victor and Eclipse favourite Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard in late May.

However, with the ground at the Esher circuit still on the quick side, trainer Ed Walker has elected to play it safe and with a line also put through next week’s Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket, Almaqam will either head to Ascot on July 26 or be saved for an autumn campaign.

“It is (frustrating to miss the Eclipse), but it’s out of our hands,” said Walker.

“He won’t go to Newmarket next week. I guess he could possibly go for the King George, but I need to speak to the team and work out whether we go there or give him a break now and keep him fresh for the autumn.

“Everything is on hold at the moment.”