As the Flat season enters its final furlong, a star-studded card assemble for the richest day on the British racing calendar. It is of course Champions Day at Ascot!
With FOUR Group 1s, a Group 2 and a Heritage handicap to get your teeth into, this short preview should have you covered for the season finale.
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LONG DISTANCE CUP – GROUP 2, 1:25pm
Trueshan @ 11/8
Stradivarius @ 7/2
Hamish @ 6/1
Baron Samedi @ 7/1
Princess Zoe @ 9/1
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Trueshan is many people’s nap of the day having stormed to success in this Group 2 prize last year. He’s since added a brace of Group 1 prizes at Goodwood and over Arc weekend and is a warm order for today’s opener.
The matchup between he and Stradivarius has never really materialised since the latter was put in his place in this race last year but few would begrudge the Gosdens’ star stayer striking the right chord on what could be his final swansong. William Haggas’ Hamish made a successful return to the track after a long absence and rates as an interesting contender to upset the front two.
CHAMPIONS SPRINT STAKES – GROUP 1, 2:00pm
Dragon Symbol @ 4/1
Rohaan @ 4/1
Art Power @ 9/2
Creative Force @ 6/1
Minzaal @ 13/2
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Since landing the Wokingham Stakes at Ascot, Rohaan hasn’t quite cut it in the step up to Group 1 company but arrives here disputing favouritism at a happy hunting ground. The booking of Ryan Moore is another added benefit. Dragon Symbol has performed with great consistency this season, without quite getting his head in front to land one of the biggest prizes. Jockey Oisin Murphy would dearly love today to be the day as he goes in search of a priceless win in the jockeys’ title race. Meanwhile, similar sentiments apply to Godolphin’s Creative Force, for the Buick-Appleby combination.
Art Power painted the Curragh blue and white for King Power Racing when last seen landing Group 3 honours, but he’s been well beaten at Group 1 level this season. It’s an open looking affair.
CHAMPIONS FILLIES & MARES STAKES – GROUP 1, 2:35pm
Snowfall @ 5/6
Albaflora @ 5/1
Invite @ 5/1
Eshaada @ 15/2
Tribal Craft @ 20/1
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It was an unseasonably cold summer with Snowfall one of the stories of the season and this race is all about Aidan O’Brien’s dual Classic-winning filly. Having rattled off a hat-trick of Oaks successes (Engish, Irish, Yorkshire), she went on to run valiantly in defeat in the Arc. On some better ground today, she’ll take all the beating.
If there is an each-way angle, Eshaada could still be unexposed, having raced just four times in her career. Connections clearly think a lot of her, having thrown her into deep waters again and she might just outrun her odds.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II STAKES – GROUP 1, 3:10pm
Palace Pier @ 13/8
Baeed @ 2/1
The Revanant @ 8/1
Master Of The Seas @ 8/1
Alchohol Free @ 8/1
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The QEII features a clash of generations as the unbeaten, young pretender Baeed looks to upset seasoned pro Palace Pier at the top of the betting. The Gosdens’ four-year-old miler has tasted defeat just once in his illustrious career which incidentally happened to be in this race last year. The ground was bottomless that day, however and today’s sounder surface should be perfect for him to make it 10 wins from 11 starts.
Outside the front two, Oisin Murphy rides Coronation Stakes scorer Alcohol Free in a combination that just keeps getting better and better thanks to the champ’s off-course activities. Mother Earth has been a model of consistency this year and could outrun her huge odds in what’s been a strange season for the Ballydoyle juggernaut, whilst last year’s QEII hero The Revenant flies the flag for France, although he’s arguably more effective with more cut in the ground.
CHAMPION STAKES – GROUP 1, 3:40pm
Mishriff @ 6/4
Adayar @ 7/4
Addeybb @ 7/1
Dubai Honour @ 15/2
Sealiway @ 12/1
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Mishriff produced arguably the performance of the season when thrashing his rivals in the Juddmonte International and heads the betting for the feature. Derby and King George hero Adayar bids to finish his super season in style and give William Buick a crucial win in the Championship race, whilst the intriguing runner could be one-time 11/8 favourite for the Derby, Bolshoi Ballet. He skipped away to land the Belmont Derby before twice being put in his place Stateside and he’ll have to improve to get involved in today’s feature.
William Haggas runs three, spearheaded by last year’s scorer Addeybb. Dubai Honour has successfully made the progression from handicap company to score at Group 2 level, but this is another step up, whilst bridle merchant Al Aasy has been called plenty of names by his supporters in the past and the jury is still out as to what he can find when push comes to shove.
BALMORAL HANDICAP, 4:30pm
Sunray Major @ 5/2
King Leonidas @ 11/2
Aldaary @ 7/1
Nugget @ 15/2
Sir Busker @ 12/1
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If you’re desperate for a winner in the lucky last at Ascot, you may look to the Gosdens to get you out of trouble. They saddle the first two in the betting in Sunray Major and King Leonidas who both look to have leading claims. Outside of that, it’s a minefield, rounding off the season in a fitting way with a tricky handicap puzzle.
