The going at Ascot will be more testing than watching Manchester United play – but Champions Day isn’t to be missed.
Six top-class races take place under the glare of the ITV and Sky Sports Racing cameras and not to be outdone the clever boys at Timeform have pulled together a free 10-page Ezine for the big day to keep you get ahead of the game.
Packed with stats, facts and features as well as four soft-ground specialists to keep onside, feel free to impress friends, followers and complete strangers with your new-found expertise on the Sport of Kings.
We start at 13.35 with the 6f Champions Sprint Stakes where recent Prix Maourice de Gheest and July Cup runner-up Advertise heads Paddy’s market from the improving Hello Youmzain, who just denied a former of this contest The Tin Man, in the Haydock Sprint Cup.
John Gosden may be on weather watch with Stradivarius in the 2m Long Distance Cup at 14.45 but Shadow Catcher shouldn’t have any problems with the ground was a convincing winner at Longchamp last month on her seasonal debut. She heads the market for the Group 1 Fillies and Mares Stakes over 1m 4f at 14.10.
French raider The Revenant has been a real plunger horse all week for the QEII Stakes over 1m at 15.20 and is unbeaten in his last six starts – four of which came in testing conditions. A winning return earlier this month after a 128-day break should see him put it up to whatever Ballydoyle’s battalions throw at him.
It’s tight at the top of the market for the 1m 2f Champion Stakes at 16.00 where William Haggas’ soft-ground specialist Addeybb and Aidan O’Brien’s Magical head the market – with Japanese starlet Deirdre trying to back up her Nassau Stakes win at Goodwood, but has to prove she handles soft ground.
The day ends with with the monster 1m Balmoral Handicap at 16.40 where Lord North, who looked a Group horse in a handicap when winning the Cambridgeshire and recent 7f course winner Kynren, give lumps of weight away to their rivals.
*Prices and runners correct at time of publishing but are as fluid as the going at Ascot
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