Hi all,
It’s Champions Day at Ascot today. To all intents and purposes, it’s the day the curtain descends on the British flat racing season although officially it ends in three weeks.
It’s a tremendous six race card at Ascot and I have had a good look at four of the race on the card.
The recent rain means racing on Ascot’s round course has been switch to the inner hurdles track which is being described as good to soft and it heavy on the straight course.
Ascot – Champions Day
1:35 – Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1) – 6f
In Monday’s Daily Punt I told readers I was sweet on the chances of Sands Of Mali. This is what I wrote
“The 4-year-old won last year’s renewal on soft ground and looks to have been trained with this race in mind. He looks a cracking each-way price at 20/1”.
He’s not that price now but his chance does remain the same.
Librisa Breeze won this in 2017 on soft ground. He was only 11th behind Sands Of Mali 12 months ago. However, 2018 was a bit of a write off. The 7-year-old has made just one start in 2019 when a promising 2nd of 7 in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury 63-days ago. That was his best form for some time, and he shouldn’t be far away at the finish.
The Tin Man won this in 2016. He was only 7th in this last year but he wasn’t suited by the slow early pace. A stronger overall gallop would put him very much in the mix and he returned to form with a clear seasonal best when runner-up on soft ground in the Sprint Cup at Haydock 42-days ago.
The winner in the Sprint Cup was Hello Youmzain. Now the 3-year-old is a sprinter on the up but he’s half the odds of The Tin Man who might be better suited to the stiffer track here.
The rapidly improving Make A Challenge is a potential spoiler. He’s been supplemented for this after a comfortable win in a Listed race at the Curragh 6-days ago. A real ‘mudlark’ and deserves his chance here. Has a bit to find with those higher up the ratings but whose to say if he’s’ found his class ceiling just yet.
Verdict: One of the most competitive races of Champions Day. Sands Of Mali made all to win 12 months ago but isn’t certain to get things his own way out in front this time. A more even gallop will suit The Tin Man and Make A Challenge will his give his backers a good run for their money.
1pt each way – The Tin Man – 12/1 @ Ladbrokes (paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
1pt win – Make A Challenge – 10/1 @ Bet365
2:10 – Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 2) – 2m
Hard to look beyond last year winner and Champion Stayer Stradivarius. A lot depends on how soft the hurdles track turns out to be. If it’s softer than good then Royal Line, a stablemate of Stradivarius, could be the one for the places. He’s yet to prove he stays 2m but shapes like he will and the softer the ground the better his chance. Comes into the race after a win the Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton 42-days ago.
0.5pts each way – Royal Line – 12/1 @ Paddy Power
3:20 – Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1) – 1m
All the money this week has been for’ mud loving’ French raider The Revenant and his claims are strong in a division that’s not strong. Plenty to like about the 4-year-old chance but all the value has probably now gone. Lord Glitters was a shade disappointing when only 6th in this race last year. However, given his overall form at the track he’s very much a contender at his best. Mohaather looked set for a good season after a taking win in the Greenham Stakes on his seasonal reappearance. He suffered a ‘setback’ after that race and hasn’t been able to run since the Greenham. Lightly raced, just his 4th career start, and his first go at a mile. Not short on pace but should get the trip and handles good to soft but a mile on heavy ground will be a real stamina test for the 3-year-old.
1pt win – Lord Glitters – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
0.5pts each way – Mohaather – 18/1 @ Ladbrokes (paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
4:00 – Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored By Qipco) (Class 2) – 1m
A field of 20 go to post for this valuable mile handicap on the straight course.
Clon Coulis was beaten just a nose on soft ground over C&D in the Royal Hunt Cup. Not so good on four subsequent races but a return to s strongly run stiff mile will suit the mare who will be hard to keep out of the money if reproducing her Hunt Cup form. Her stablemate Kynren broke a long losing run when winning here over 7f. A 6lb penalty makes life tougher for the 5-year-old but he can never be discounted in these sorts of race.
John Gosden saddles a pair of live contenders in recent Cambridgshire winner Lord North and Kick On. Top weight, on heavy ground, asks a different set of questions for Lord North but he’s very much on the upgrade and if he handles the ground remains a big player. Unlike his stablemate Kick On is proven with juice in the ground. A winner of a Group 3 at Salisbury on his last start he’s on a tough mark for his handicap debut but can’t be discounted.
Biometric won the valuable Britannia Handicap over C&D at Royal Ascot. Not at that level on two subsequent starts and maybe a shade high in the handicap. However, given his straight course form he can’t be easily dismissed. Another with good past course form is Flaming Spear. The 7-year-old is talented enough to win if in the mood, but you never really know what mood he’s in. Glen Shiel looks to have plenty to do on his third start for Archie Watson but he’s on a workable mark based on his best French form and has winning form in testing ground in France. Has each way claims in a competitive handicap.
Verdict: You wouldn’t be surprised ir Kynren was to win again but I do prefer his stablemate Clon Coulis. Of the Gosden pair I just prefer Kick On. For those looking for one at bigger odds I wouldn’t put you off Glen Shiel.
1pt win – Clon Coulis – 9/1 @ Paddy Power & William Hill
1pt win – Kick On – 12/1 @ Paddy Power
Verdict: Like the first race it’s a competitive race as you would expect from a valuable 20 runner handicap.
There is racing beyond Ascot. At Ffos Las we have the Welsh Champion Hurdle and Market Rasen plays host to a good jumps card.
Ffos Las
4:15 – Eleven have been declared to go post for this year’s renewal of the Welsh Champion Hurdle. It’s a handicap which usually produces some strong form for later in the season including the Cheltenham Festival. It’s a race I will be taking a close look with the future in mind.
Monsieur Lecoq looks a worthy favourite. A winner of a heavy ground C&D maiden last December. He then went on to win at Sandown before finishing 2nd of 13 in the Imperial Cup at the same track. Probably found the County Hurdle at Cheltenham came to quick after his Imperial Cup run when only 10th of 24. Just 3lb higher than at Sandown he’s capable of better this season and with ground to suit can make a winning seasonal reappearance.
Paul Nicholls has made a good start to the autumn jumps campaign. He saddles last years runner-up Le Prezien. The 8-year-old wasn’t in the same form on three subsequent chase starts last season but can’t be discounted here. He can race of 2lb lower than 12 months ago and todays anticipated softer ground will suit him better than last year. Should be fit enough for his seasonal reappearance and is a big player albeit he’s vulnerable to an improver like the favourite.
2pts win – Monsieur Lecoq – 3/1 @ Bet365
Market Rasen
4:20 – A competitive nine runner Class 2 handicap chase. Whoshotwho is 2 from 2 over C&D, both wins on good ground but is effective on softer. Can go well fresh and has good claims on return to track that clearly suits.
1pt win – Whoshotwho – 7/1 @ Bet365
Due to recent flub jab I have had bit of a cold so wasn’t able to complete last weeks notebook but it will be with you tomorrow.
Cheers
John