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Ascot no problem for Almanzor
- Updated: October 11, 2016
Jean-Claude Rouget expects the demands of Ascot to bring out the best in Almanzor in Saturday’s Qipco Champion Stakes.
The French Derby hero beat his elders for the first time when seeing off subsequent Arc heroine Found in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last month and a rematch could be on the cards.
Almanzor showed thrilling acceleration to score in Ireland, but Rouget is keeping his cards close to his chest regarding what tactics will be employed this weekend.
He said: “Almanzor’s a very good traveller, and the plan is that he’ll come over on his own in the lorry on Thursday to give him a little time to acclimatise to Ascot.
“I believe he will like Ascot, which resembles our French racecourses more than Newmarket does with its undulations, although I won (the Champion Stakes) there with Literato.
“As far as tactics go, I’ll wait to see what we will employ when I know more about the draw.
“It’s something that will be decided at the last minute with his connections.”
Aidan O’Brien will make a decision on whether Found will turn out …
