Touted as the “best four-year-old in town” earlier this season, Jamie Richards is excited to unleash Bulb General at Sha Tin on Sunday as he makes his first start since an injury that kept him out of the Classic Series.

The Embellish galloper built on a promising third on debut to run riot over the 1,200m trip at Sha Tin last July, sprinting clear under Zac Purton by two and a half lengths to stamp himself as a clear contender for the four-year-old series.

He backed up that performance twice this season, defeating Akashvani by a length and a half on return before giving the Classic Mile second Infinite Resolve a running lesson when last seen in October, cruising two-and-three-quarter lengths clear of him.

Unfortunately for Richards, Bulb General then suffered a right fore ligament injury, which ruled him out of Classic Series contention.

Returning to trackwork just before Christmas, the rising star has been nursed back to health and on the back of two useful trials, Richards is looking forward to seeing what he can do in Sunday’s Class Two CW Chu Alumni Handicap (1,200m) under regular rider Purton.

“I’m really looking forward to getting him back to the races. Obviously it’s his first time in Class Two off a long break, but he seems to be in good order and his trial at the Valley was good by his standards,” Richards said.

“It’s hard to know until you take him to the races what he’s going to do because he doesn’t show you much at home or at the trials. Sometimes that’s great, but from a trainer’s perspective you want to see a little bit of something.

“That said, we know he turns up on race day and at the beginning of the season he was the best four-year-old in town. He’s had a decent break, so let’s see how it goes. We don’t want to hype him up too much but I think he’s ready to run a nice race.”

Richards also has strong claims on the Sha Tin card with last-start winner Jubilant Winner, who runs in the Class Three Wu Yee Sun Alumni Handicap (1,200m).

Rated just 44 when making a winning return over track and distance in September, he made quick work of a 9lb rise at the weights by going back-to-back a month later.

After three subsequent defeats, he got back to winning ways on his most recent start, taking full advantage of the inside barrier for a cosy length and a quarter triumph over the reopposing Happy Index.

Another 8lb rise does not make things easy and Richards would have liked to have drawn lower than gate six, but he is hopeful there is more to come from his improving Capitalist galloper.

“He’s a horse that needs a nice low barrier, so fingers crossed for that because if he gets it he’ll run well again,” Richards said earlier this week.

“He’s done a good job this season – he’s gone from a rating of 41 to the middle 60s. How much further he can go from here I don’t know, but we’ll soon find out.”