13:25 Sir Erec
Could be the surprise package in this Champions Day staying division, being a lightly-raced runner with massive potential to improve. He was very impressive last time when 15lbs ‘wrong’ on official ratings but bolted up at Limerick. He needs to take another huge step forward, but I feel the favourite Stradivarius is vulnerable in these softer conditions. The Aidan O’Brien runner can get our day off to a flyer.
14:00 Donjuan Triumphant
A known mud-lover and was not beaten far at all in the Haydock Park Sprint behind red-hot favourite The Tin Man. If you look back at the replay he was the only horse finishing well, after getting a little further out of his ground than was deal,
The added bonus on Saturday is that James Doyle takes over on board.
That will get him closer to the favourite at least. He’s a massive each-way price at 20’s with Paddy who is paying four places!
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14:40 Lah Ti Dar
Was only caught out by her inexperience behind a very good St Leger winner in Kew Gardens last month at Doncaster. Given her lightly-raced profile we haven’t seen the best of her yet. With natural improvement from 35 days ago, she really warrants her place at the top of the market.
15:15 Roaring Lion
It has been a pleasure to watch his improvement throughout the season. The drop back down to 1m should not hinder him under testing conditions, Think back to the change of gear he showed in the Racing Post Trophy last year on rain-softened ground.
I’m hoping for an explosive performance from John Gosden’s superstar.
3:50 Crystal Ocean
He wasn’t supplemented for the Arc at Longchamp so finds himself in the Champion Stakes a relatively fresh horse. His season has been handled typically patiently by his master trainer Sir Michael Stoute and over a trip that may well be just be a pinch short of his best, he’ll probably look beaten at some point. However, when his stamina kicks in, he’ll be hitting the line strongly under slow, grinding, conditions.
4:30 South Seas
Andrew Balding’s runner was a class-act as a two-year-old and as can often be the case, went missing for his three-year-old season. He’s been getting better with his racing this season and put up a very good weight-carrying performance at Goodwood, when bumping into a well-handicapped Enigmatic last time.
Gallop over to PaddyPower.com now for all the latest on Champions DayA strongly run mile and soft conditions are perfect for him in the finale.