Hi all,
On the eve of Champions Day, I am completing my look at the Group 1 races on the card.
Qipco Champions Day
The final declarations for the seven Ascot races came out yesterday.
Yesterday I looked at the first three races. Today the focus is on the Fillies & Mares, QE11 Stakes and the Champion Stakes.
2:45 – Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (1m4f)
Last year’s winner Kalpana heads the betting and is the class act. She’s arguably better on easier ground and didn’t get the best of passages out wide in the Arc last time. With a better ride, she could have been in the first three. How much of a battler she is under pressure is still to be tested. And she might have had a tough race at Longchamp.
Estrange, second in the betting, also prefers softer ground. She could win this, but quicker than good ground would be a concern.
Waardah is an improving three-year-old who won the Group 2 Lilly Langtry Stakes over 1m6f at Goodwood last time. The drop back in distance shouldn’t be an issue given she’s a strong traveller, and she should handle quicker ground.
First Look, who has been supplemented Paddy Twomey, ran close to a career best when a ¾ length 3rd of 12 in the Group 1 Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp 13 days ago. She was doing her best work at the finish where the winner got an uncontested lead. The step up to 1m4f is interesting and she’s worth her place in the line-up.
French challenger Quisisana was another not seen to best effect in the Arc, while Bedtime Story should be really suited to a well-run 1m4f on quick ground and was backed on Wednesday at big odds.
3:25 – Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1m)
Field Of Gold returns from a disappointing run in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, where he was found lame. He’s 7/4 favourite and clearly the class horse here. Forgive that last run, and he’ll take the beating.
Rosallion has been runner-up in three Group 1s over a mile this season. He’ll can go close again but seems to find one too good at the business end.
Fallen Angel is in the form of her life, winning her last three in Group 1 company. She faces the boys here, and Ascot’s stiff mile will test her front-running style. Some cut would help, but she’ll be fine on genuinely good ground.
Never So Brave completed a hat-trick with his new Group 1 City of York Stakes win (7f) last time. He’s won over 7f (straight course) and Group 2 over 1m (round course) here. A gelding operation has improved him. Good ground suits, and he’s a major contender.
French raider Facteur Cheval has finished runner-up in this race the last two years and has each way claims again. The same sentiment applies to Docklands, who won the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal Meeting and has form figures of 1132221 on Ascot’s straight course.
4:05 – Qipco Champion Stakes (1m2f)
The race of the day, and possibly the season.
Ombudsman looks set to confirm his York International Stakes form with Delacroix in a well-run race. Delacroix has since gone onto be an impressive winner of the Irish Champion Stakes, but he’s been on the go since the end of March. So, like the market I think Ombudsman is the one to beat.
Calandagan, a dual Group 1 winner over further this season, finished runner-up here last year. He should thrive over 1m2f on good ground and has solid claims to go one better than 12 months ago.
Economics won the Irish Champion Stakes last year but disappointed when only sixth on soft ground in last year’s race. He bled that day, so run is excusable. First start for 12 months but he’s got a good record off a layoff, so I doubt he’ll lack fitness and given his bleeding issues first time up could be the time to catch him.
Almeric has improved with each of his four runs, winning the Listed Doonside Cup at Ayr last month in impressive style. Up significantly in class but the 3yo still has more to give but might prefer softer ground.
Tomorrow I'll take a look at the Balmoral Handicap which concludes the Champions Day card.
Good luck with your Friday bets.
John
“Just One Look, that’s all it took, just One Look”
Thanks for preparing todays information and stats for Qipco Champion day’s racing, very interesting racing at Ascot! Looking forward in some of your selections here.
Ed