Almeraq backed to confirm his standing in the sprinting elite

William Haggas feels Almeraq’s credentials are “pretty solid whatever the ground” ahead of the Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint at Ascot.

Having suffered a heavy fall in 2025 ultimately led to the retirement of his rider Jim Crowley, the four-year-old has done remarkably well to climb to the top of the sprinting ranks, enjoying Group One success in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at the Royal meeting and in Haydock’s Sprint Cup.

While conditions will not be anything like as testing as they were on Merseyside, Haggas points to his narrow Royal Ascot win as evidence he can be effective on a quicker surface and is happy to forgive his disappointing July Cup effort.

“He is really good. It doesn’t look like he’s going to get his weather to make it a 6-4 shot, but I think he’s a pretty good horse and I think he’s in really good shape. So I would be very hopeful he would go well,” said Haggas.

“He was very good at Haydock. He obviously enjoyed that very soft ground at Haydock, but he did run a very good race at Ascot. If you can put a line through his run in the July Cup, where he was drawn low and saw way too much daylight and I’m not sure he enjoyed the track much, then I think his credentials are pretty solid whatever the ground.

“If he hadn’t run in the July Cup you would be hailing him as one of the greats and I think he is a pretty good horse.”

Almeraq is joined by two stable companions in Division and Binhareer, and Haggas feels the first-named in particular should not be dismissed lightly, having run with credit at the highest level in the Commonwealth Cup, July Cup and Prix Maurice de Gheest.

“I think Division is very much worthy of his place,” the Somerville Lodge handler added.

“We were never planning to go with him until we saw the forecast about a month ago and thought there is a chance this might not be as wet as usual.

“He was drawn one in the July Cup (finished fifth) and two in the Bengough Stakes last time where you had to be drawn high. It has been a mess for him this year, but he is pretty smart.”

Division is one of three representatives for owners Wathnan Racing along with Ed Bethell’s Sprint Cup runner-up Paborus and the James Fanshawe-trained Kind Of Blue, who won this race two years ago and is fresh from a confidence-boosting success on the all-weather at Kempton.

Fanshawe said: “Speaking to Richard Brown (Wathnan racing manager) we thought, right, let’s try to get another race into him before Ascot to give him some confidence.

“We were absolutely thrilled that he got his nose back in front and he thoroughly enjoyed his day out at Kempton. Touch wood, he’s come out of the race really well, so it’s great to get him back.

“All you can hope is that we get there in good shape. Almeraq looks like he’s going to be tough to beat, but you just hope you get there in one piece.”

William Buick will partner Danish raider Great Wish, who was last seen winning a Group Three in France.

“He’s a nice ride to pick up and he ran so well when he won in Deauville,” said Buick.

“I thought he ran really well before that at Royal Ascot (sixth behind Almeraq) and I rode him on Monday and he’s a horse with plenty of class.

“Some of the others if they turn up at their best might be tough to beat, but I’m sure he will run well.”