Al Qareem bidding for more glory on familiar territory at York

Al Qareem is ready to put Chester disappointment behind him when he heads to his beloved York to defend his Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup Stakes crown.

Trained by Middleham’s Karl Burke, the consistent seven-year-old has become something of a local hero on the Knavesmire winning three times and never finishing outside the first four.

He made a winning return this term up at Musselburgh, but having underperformed in the Ormonde Stakes most recently is now backed to showcase his best on familiar territory.

“We were always going to come here and the ground will be fine for him,” said Nick Bradley of owners the Nick Bradley Racing Syndicate.

“At Chester the ground was definitely too quick for him. It was his worst race for some time but we’re entirely blaming the ground and Karl is very happy with him leading into this race.

“I wasn’t overly keen to run at Chester and I would have preferred to wait for the Yorkshire Cup. On paper Chester looked the right race but I think in reality and the way things played out it might have been the wrong race.

“I haven’t got as many concerns coming here as I did heading into Chester and we can always come here with some confidence knowing how well he goes at the track. We’re based in the north and this is our premier track. He won here twice last year and it was an automatic choice for his schedule.”

Al Qareem will face a maximum of five rivals including Mount Atlas from the Andrew Balding stable who was behind him in second in the Goliath Stakes up at Musselburgh in April, but ahead when also runner-up at Chester last month.

David O’Meara’s Epic Poet was third in the Yorkshire Cup in May before also not being disgraced at Sandown in the Henry II Stakes, while Tom Clover’s Tabletalk and one-time Melbourne Cup hope Running Lion (Olly Murphy) bringing extra depth to the contest.

However, the most intriguing of the sextet could be John and Thady Gosden’s Gregory who returns from 476 days off the track for “one last roll of the dice”.

A part of Wathnan Racing’s emergence onto the scene when winning the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot in 2024, he would go on to perform consistently but without hitting the same heady heights as niggling injuries blighted his progress.

Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown said: “He’s obviously had a long time off and has been with a lady called Holly Campbell who does a superb job. He’s just been allowed to be a horse, he’s been ridden out and hacked around the place. I even think he’s been hunting, he’s done all sorts.

“We’ve just let him enjoy being a horse and this is likely to be his last campaign and if he had another niggle that would be it, but we just felt there is still a little bit of unfinished business with him.

“We haven’t had a smooth run since he won at Royal Ascot so we just decided to stop and have a complete reset before bringing him back as a very fresh horse for one last roll of the dice. We thought he would then tell us.

“If it’s not for him anymore then it is no problem and he was part of that first Royal Ascot for us and gave us a huge day out. There will be a long queue of people who would love to have him in retirement but his work has actually been OK so let’s see how he goes.”

Wathnan will also fancy their chances of picking up the valuable Churchill Tyres Supporting Macmillan Sprint Handicap on the card with Hamad Al Jehani’s Postmodern who proved in rude health in Meydan over the winter.

Brown added: “I think he’s improved for being gelded and Hamad is really happy with him.

“I think he can still be competitive off his mark.”

The Newmarket raider will face stiff opposition from the local Yorkshire hoards with Tim Easterby’s Red Spells Danger in search of a hat-trick and also bidding to give his handler a sixth win in the contest.

“I made a right mess with him – I was trying to make him get seven furlongs, I don’t know why,” said Easterby, who will also saddle Go Vince Go.

“He is a very good horse. Whatever beats him will win, I think.

“The ground won’t matter to him. He’s very adaptable, he’ll go on any ground.”

Also in contention is Brian Ellison’s Fortification, who is in fact an ex-Wathnan charge looking to deny his former owners and supplement the win he secured at the track during the Dante meeting before going close when fourth back at York last time.

Ellison said: “I think we’ve got a good each-way chance.

“He’s in great form. He’s working very well – he did a nice bit of work the other day. I’m very happy with him.

“He’s never run over six before – that’s the only query. But for the money we’re taking our chance.

“If they like York, it’s worth keep going back and that’s what we’re doing.”