Hard to summon up much enthusiasm for Champions’ Day...
I have had word for Kynren a couple of times this year when it has not obliged. I know someone who gets word when Curtis is riding something that he fancies but never heard a thing last time when it won! Today with a penalty for that latest win it has to have a chance, but is Cambridgeshire winner Lord North a Group horse that can give weight away all around?
The Champion Sprint looks like a good race to be a bookmaker. Hard to fancy last year’s winner Sands Of Mali as they will not give him an uncontested lead this year. Hello Youmzain won the Haydock Sprint Cup on soft ground by half a length from Ascot specialist The Tin Man with Brando, Fairyland, Dream Of Dreams, Forever In Dreams, So Perfect and Khaadem behind. Advertise was a non-runner at Haydock and surely heavy ground ends his chance. The same can be said for Khaadem. The ground should not be a problem for progressive Make A Challenge but is Denis Hogan’s gelding capable of the jump in class to complete an amazing season? Mabs Cross has disappointed this season, has never won over six furlongs and surely does not want this stamina test. Favourite One Master is okay with the ground but is this too soon after the Prix de la Forêt? Wokingham winner Cape Byron is becoming an Ascot specialist but he comes here on only one day more rest than the favourite.
With the Long Distance Cup being one of the races run on the inner hurdles course, it is hard to look beyond Stradivarius. His main rival Kew Gardens has not won a race since last year’s St Leger and front-runner Withhold needs to bridge a big gap in class.
The Fillies And Mares looks like a straight match between John Gosden’s two three year olds facing just two older fillies. I think Frankie has made the right choice deserting Oaks winner Anapurna for Irish Oaks winner Star Catcher as he did when winning the Prix Vermeille (although it was an easy call that day as the former had not run since Epsom).
I am sure there is some reason why they did not switch the QEII to the inner course. French raider The Revenant has run up a sequence culminating in the five-runner Prix Daniel Wildenstein hammering the disappointing Olmedo and steps up to the top table wearing a first-time hood. The ground may be against Benbatl, no career wins on easy ground, but he is the best horse in the race. LORD GLITTERS won the Queen Anne over course and distance, has won here on soft ground, was second in last year’s Lincoln on soft ground and has to have a great chance. Guineas winner Magna Grecia won the Futurity last year on easy ground but has not been seen since May: have Ballydoyle got him back to his Newmarket form for today? The ground looks to be against the two Kings – King Of Comedy and King Of Change.
In the Champion Stakes, Magical comes here off a short break after a tough race in the Arc, this is her optimum trip and she is okay with the ground. Mehdaayih also turns out again quickly and ran no sort of race in the Prix de l'Opéra. When Coronet runs, I always get it wrong: she won the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud this year when I backed her stablemate and was beaten last year when I backed her. Japanese raider Deirdre ran poorly on soft ground at the Royal meeting, surprised to win the Nassau and is held by Magical on Irish Champion form. Addeybb loves soft ground but I simply do not think he is good enough even in a moderate year.
