Balding ‘really happy’ with Almeric ahead of Sandown return

Almeric has an early opportunity to state his top-level credentials when he reappears in the bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown.

Andrew Balding’s son of Study Of Man made a taking return in last year’s Feilden Stakes, but progress was somewhat hindered by a setback, next seen when winning the Doonside Cup in good fashion at Ayr in September.

He was then given the opportunity to test his mettle in a stellar renewal of the Champion Stakes at Ascot and his handler his optimistic he will end up in Group One company once again at some point in the coming months.

Balding said: “His two wins last year represented pretty strong form and the second one was after a pretty long break.

“I’ve been really happy with him, I’m hoping the track will suit and hopefully he will be very competitive.

“I’d hope he will develop into a Group One horse, he fell some way short when he ran in the Champion Stakes but he was lacking experience and I just hope he is a horse who will keep on developing and one day be effective at that level.”

Bringing course form to the table is Roger Varian’s Saddadd who progressed steadily through the ranks last term and is a colt his handler hopes is still to hit his peak.

This will be his first outing in Group company and Varian said: “We’re looking forward to running him and he has trained lovely all spring.

“It’s a small but warm little race, I think there are a few in there whose best days could be ahead of them and we hope we are one of those. Andrew Balding’s horse did well last year and could be even better this year, so it’s an intriguing little race, but I’m really happy with my guy.

“He wouldn’t want a firm surface, but I’m sure the ground will be in a good condition as it usually is for this meeting.

“He’s won over course and distance so we know the track suits him and it’s just a nice starting point. He’ll improve for the run, but he has still done enough to run nicely and it will give us a guide to what direction to take over the next six weeks.

“He has some nice entries, but everything is speculative with a horse at the moment and even though we think he is quite good, we’ll be a lot wiser after Friday.”

Similarly to the aforementioned Almeric, John and Thady Gosden’s Devil’s Advocate was another to compete in that red-hot running of the Champion Stakes, albeit undertaking pacemaking duties for stablemate Ombudsman.

He arrives match-fit having chased home Gethin in the Magnolia Stakes at Kempton, while similar sentiments apply to Charlie Pike’s Muddy Mooy who was back in third.

Meanwhile, Strensall Stakes winner King Of Cities will make his first start for Karl Burke with Ryan Moore doing the steering.

“He’s in good shape and I’m looking forward to seeing him run actually,” said Burke.

“For me he’s definitely a mile-and-a-quarter horse – he does all his best work at the end of his gallops.

“He will improve for a run, but I think it’s a good starting point for him.”