With plenty of rain around and Hurricane Brian on its way, let’s hope the weather doesn’t spoil what looks to be one of the best day’s racing of recent times with Champions Day at Ascot. It’s hard to pick out a highlight as every race is top class in its own right, so let’s take a look through the card.
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1.25 Ascot: Long Distance Cup
Order Of St George is a short priced favourite but must be opposed after a tough race in the Arc, despite a good season overall. Big Orange and Stradivarius are big dangers on paper but I’m not sure the soft ground is ideal for either.
I like the chances of Desert Skyline. He’s still lightly raced and is improving all the time having won the Doncaster Cup last time out. He has shown a distinct preference for good to soft ground and I feel that even softer ground could bring about further improvement. He stayed on well when last seen here and with it sure to be a slog, I think he’ll be coming late to pick up those toiling at the business end.
Tips
Back Desert Skyline (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 13.00 Bet365 BOG (¼ odds 1-3)
Back it here:
2.00 Ascot: Champion Sprint
A repeat of the Harry Angel / Caravaggio Commonwealth Cup battle and this time the former is expected to come out on top. He really does seem like the real deal but trading around evens, I’m prepared to look elsewhere.
A favourite of mine is Quiet Reflection and I think he’s got a super each way chance at 7/1. He’s 6 from 7 with soft in the going description so the ground will be a key factor. He was one of the very best around last term but has only been seen twice this year, finishing 10th in the Haydock Sprint Cup on unsuitably firm ground before hacking up in a Naas Group 3 with underfoot conditions to suit. Her trainer is making good noises and she looks to hold a top chance.
Tips
Back Quiet Reflection (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 8.00 Betfair Sportsbook BOG (⅕ odds 1-3)
Back it here:
2.40 Ascot: Fillies & Mares
Another top quality event but one where I cannot get away from the favourite. Bateel is a French raider with a season record of 2111, winning a 3 Group races including a Group 1 on soft ground, comfortably scooting clear of 2nd favourite Journey.
Admittedly, she ran a stinker in this 12 months ago but a change of yard has seen marked improvement and I honestly can’t see any better in this. She’s 6 from 6 on going with soft in the description and comes here with a huge chance of making it 7.
Tips
Back Bateel for a 2/10 stake at 3.25 Coral BOG
Back it here:
3.15 Ascot: Queen Elizabeth II
You’d think this was all about Ribchester but there’s a chink in his armour when the ground is very testing and, by the time of the 4th race, I think the ground might just be that.
I’m taking a chance on progressive 3 year old Beat The Bank who started by winning a maiden in February and has won 4 of his last 5 including a Newmarket Group 2 last time. He has absolutely bolted up the last 3 runs and his RPR last time was as good as any of these have achieved. This is another step up in class but he hasn’t stopped improving and could prove to be something very special indeed.
Tips
Back Beat The Bank (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 6.50 Paddy Power BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
Back it here:
3.50 Ascot: Champion Stakes
This looked to be between Cracksman and Barney Roy but I’m not sure either are that solid. Trip & ground are concerns for me so I’ll go with Poets Word to beat them both.
He’s in good form and has had quite a light campaign, winning twice and finishing runner up twice. Last time out, he was beaten in a Group 1 by Decorated Knight and that is very good form to take into this race. His top trainer only brings 2 to the meeting, which is a surprise in itself, especially with the other trading at a big price so I think he must be expecting a performance from this one.
Tips
Back Poets Word (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 8.00 BetVictor BOG (⅕ odds 1-3)
Back it here:
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