Almanzor makes belated return to action at Deauville

Almanzor returns in triumph after his superb win on QIPCO British Champions Day. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Almanzor makes his long awaited return to action in a Group Three contest at Deauville on Tuesday.

The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained four-year-old has been off course since his superb defeat of Found in the QIPCO Champion Stakes on British Champions Day at Ascot last October.

He could defend his crown on October 21 but his connections are intent on taking one step at a time, with his return delayed because Rouget had not 100 per cent happy with his charge earlier in the campaign.

Almanzor, winner of eight of his ten races, will start at cramped odds to beat five inferior rivals in the Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Sylvain Vidal, racing manager for part-owner Gerard Augustin-Normand, said: “It’s a very big day. We’ll see what happens, but it’s exciting. He worked very well last week. Jean-Claude is very happy with the horse.”

As regards future targets, he added: “We don’t want to make plans until after he runs.”