Brittish Champions day marks the end of the flat season and what a way to wind it down as some of the best horses in training are on show. Advertise should be hard to beat in the Sprint, with the same comment applying to Stradivarius in the Long Distance Cup. I think can give Frankie another Group 1 to his CV on Coronet and Biometric looks like value in the Balmoral.
Champions Sprint Stakes
Martyn Meade reports Advertise to be in great form coming into the race and looks the one to beat based on his Group 1 course and distance victory in the Commonwealth Cup. He backed this up with another Group 1 win in France and will prove difficult to beat.
The Irish-raider Make A Challenge has undoubtedly been one of the most improved horses in training this season, initially winning off a mark 68 and ran away with a listed a race at the Curragh last week. He’s backed up from a quick run in the past and just continues to improve.
Sands Of Mali sprung a surprise when winning this twelve months ago but he’s been disappointing in a light campaign and needs to show much more to feature.
The other horse of note is Hello Youmzain who won the Haydock Sprint Cup on his only start of the year. There should be improvement to come from the son of Kodiac and shouldn’t be underestimated.
Selection: Hello Youmzain – E/W
Champions Long Distance Cup
The dual £1 million bonus winner Stradivarius took this contest last season and it’s impossible to look past the best stayer of his generation for a repeat victory. He’s just different classic and should land his eleventh race on the trot.
Royal Line has progressed nicely through handicaps including when landing the November handicap. He took the step up in class in hos stride when easily landing the September Stakes and could progress to follow home the favourite.
The extra distance could bring out the best in Kew Gardens who won last season’s St. Leger and although he ran below par in the Irish St Leger, he a quality animal and could give Stradivarius the biggest challenge.
Selection: Kew Gardens – E/W
Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes
John Gosden has a strong hand in this with Star Catcher and Anapurna. Star Catcher has won the Irish Oaks and Prix Vermeille in fine style on her last two starts. That form makes her the one to beat and will take beating.
Epsom Oaks winner Anapurna finished well behind her stablemate two runs back but won a Group 1 over 1M 6F at Longchamp and if reproducing that run she should go close.
Fleeting has yet to win in seven runs this season but has been placed in three Group 1’s along the way and wasn’t beaten far in Beverly D at Arlington. The trip looks sure to suit and must enter calculations.
Selection: Anapurna
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
Three-year-olds have a great record in the race and have strong claims again here with King Of Comedy and Magna Grecia. John Gosden’s King Of Comedy finished runner-up in the James’s Palace Stakes behind the re-opposing Circus Maximus. He was disappointing in the Joel Stakes behind Benbatl and needs to bounce back.
Magna Grecia won the Doncaster Trophy on his final start of the season and then opened his account by landing the 2000 Guineas. He couldn’t follow up in the Irish equivalent but if putting that run behind then he should feature.
French-raider The Revenant put in ana taking performance when landing a Group 2 at Lonchamp when last seen. That being said I not convinced how strong the form of that race is and he’ll need to improve again to get involved.
Selection: Magna Grecia
Champion Stakes
Magical was a winner on this card last year when taking the Fillies’ & Mares Stakes under Ryan Moore and then ran Enable close in the Breeders Cup Turf on her final start on the season. She has for figures of “122215” in Group 1 contest this season and if showing no ill effects for her Arc exerts then she’ll be tough to beat.
The course and distance winner Addeybb became a Royal Ascot winner earlier this season when claiming the Wolferton. He has progressed since to land the Rose Of Lancaster in fine style but I can’t see this form being good enough to win.
Frankie has a great looking book of rides and many multiples could be rolling onto Coronet who’s won a brace of Group 1’s in France so far this season. She’s was beaten just a length by Magical on this card last year and comes into the race in great form.
Japanese raider Deirdre landed a historic victory in the Nassau Stakes earlier in the campaign and wasn’t disgraced in the Irish Champion Stakes. If the ground was better I’d be fancying her but on a slow surface, she may struggle.
Selection: Coronet
Balmoral Handicap
Kynren duly landed a heritage handicap when winning the Challenge Stakes over seven furlongs. The extra-furlong should prove no problem but the six-pound hike in the ratings may stop him.
Ralph Beckett’s Biometric hadn’t seen a racecourse until April this years but he’s made up for the lost time by winning the Britannia on just his fourth start. The juice in the ground should bring out the best in him and a mark of 101 looks manageable.
Oisin Murphy takes the ride on Kick On who makes his handicap debut here off a mark of 108. He got that mark based on his Group 3 victory at Sailsbury in august and is an intriguing winner.
The lightly-raced Lord North always looked in control when winning the Cambridgeshire last month. The handicapper gave him a twelve-month hike for that victory which will make life more difficult but should go well.
Selection: Biometric
