A star-studded climax to the British Champions Series brings together some of the best horses of the season for the richest day in British racing. Frankel is probably the biggest name taking to the track, with Sir Henry Cecil's three-year-old looking to continue his unbeaten career record in the QEII Stakes. Fame And Glory takes on Opinion Poll in the Long Distance Cup, So You Think is favourite for the Champions Stakes and Society Rock bids for a second Group 1 victory of the year in the Sprint Stakes.
British Champions Day
Ascot (Good)
1.50 Long Distance Cup (Group 3) 16f, 3-year-olds+ (10 runners)
Opinion Poll (Mahmood Al Zarooni/Frankie Dettori) 9/4fav or Colour Vision (Mark Johnston/Silvestre De Sousa) 20/1ew
Following Fame And Glory's (AP O'Brien/Jamie Spencer, 11/4) win in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot it looked like Aiden O'Brien's charge would sweep all before him. Two unconvincing runs later and this contest doesn't look quite so straight forward. Opinion Poll, second in the Gold Cup, has been as consistent as ever this season, winning the Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Cup since, and is my pick to take his third big race of the year. Colour Vision was third in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket last week, has two wins over 16 furlongs already this year, and receives 11 pounds in weight because of his age. Up in grade, but each way claims.
2.25 Sprint Stakes (Group 2) 6f, 3-year-olds+ (16 runners)
Society Rock (James Fanshawe/Pat Cosgrave) 6/1ew or Libranno (Richard Hannon/Kieren Fallon) 33/1ew
Indications are the ground will suit Ascot specialist Society Rock on Saturday, with the four-year-old reserving his best runs for the track. Winner of this year's Golden Jubilee Stakes, the colt has an excellent chance of heading off the challenge of stablemate Deacon Blues (James Fanshawe/Johnny Murtagh, 9/4fav). Libranno is possibly suited by further, but the three-year-old did finish fourth in the Group 1 July Cup over this distance at Newmarket. The price is excellent if managing to get four places each way.
3.00 Fillies' & Mares' Stakes (Group 2) 12f, 3-year-olds+ (10 runners)
Banimpire (J Bolger/ ) 10/1ew or Gertrude Bell (John Gosden/William Buick) 14/1ew
Irish raider Banimpire has performed admirably in Ireland, France and Britain this season, with her best run coming in the Irish Oaks where she was just touched off by Blue Bunting. The weight advantage given to three-year-olds could give her the edge over lightly-raced favourite Ferdoos (Roger Varian/Neil Callan, 7/2). Gertrude Bell is my pick of the older runners. John Gosden's four-year-old is undefeated in two races this season.
3.35 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1) 8f, 3-year-olds+ (8 runners)
Frankel (Sir Henry Cecil/Tom Queally) 4/11fav or Dick Turpin (Richard Hannon/Christophe Soumillon) 25/1ew
Possibly the easiest race of the card to call. The undefeated Frankel takes to the track for a ninth career outing, looking to add a fourth Group 1 victory of the year to his record. Fellow three-year-olds Excelebration (Marco Botti/Jamie Spencer, 6/1) and Immortal Verse (Robert Collet/Gerald Mosse, 6/1) are strong challengers, but Frankel should have more than enough ability to prevail. Four-year-old Dick Turpin, off the back of a Group 1 triumph in Italy last month, is an excellent each way price, and the pick of the older horses.
4.10 Champions Stakes (Group 1) 10f, 3-year-olds+ (12 runners)
Twice Over (Sir Henry Cecil/Ian Mongan) 9/1ew or Wigmore Hall (Michael Bell/Jamie Spencer) 33/1ew
The best race in terms of quality depth appears to be at the mercy of New Zealand star So You Think (AP O'Brien/Ryan Moore, 9/4fav), but the five-year-old's defeat to the late Rewilding at Royal Ascot shows he is far from unbeatable. This is why my pick is Twice Over, who has put poor early performances this season behind him and looks primed for another big run. French runner Cirrus Des Aigles (Mme C Barande Barbe/Christophe Soumillon, 8/1) is also a contender, along with female stars Midday (Sir Henry Cecil/Tom Queally, 7/1) and Snow Fairy (Ed Dunlop/Olivier Peslier, 8/1). Best each way value could be the globetrotting Wigmore Hall, however, who won the Group 1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes in Canada last month.
4.45 Future Stars Apprentice Handicap (Class 2) 7f, 3-year-olds+ (29 runners)
The Confessor (Henry Candy/Martin Harley) 11/1ew fav or Valencha (Hughie Morrison/Harry Bentley) 14/1ew
Rounding the card off is a large handicap for apprentice jockeys. Martin Harley and Harry Bentley are two of the more accomplished young pilots in Britain at the moment, and both appear to have been given a good chance of victory. The Confessor hasn't won since last August but is a consistently good performer over seven furlongs. Valencha is another consistent type who has finished fourth or better in all 16 career outings.
No comments:
Post a Comment