Ascot: 16th Oct 2021
1:25
The British Champions Long Distance Cup gets us underway and what a race we have store. The old champion Stradivarius is taking on the new up and coming superstar in Trueshan. A couple of weeks ago these two met in the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp on Arc weekend and Trueshan forged clear inside the final furlong to win going away from Stradivarius. The ground would not have been to Stradivarius’ liking, but he has a tough challenge on his hand to reverse the form today.
If the top two in the market were to underperform, Princess Zoe could be the one to take advantage. She ran a cracker here in the Gold Cup finishing second to the very impressive Subjectivist and a repeat of that would see her go very close today.
Selection – Trueshan – 11/8
2:00
We move on to the Champion Sprint Stakes and it’s very tight at the top of market. Dragon Symbol had the Commonwealth Cup taken away from him in the stewards’ room at Royal Ascot after passing the winning post first. You have to say Dragon Symbol has been very unlucky not to win a big Group 1 sprint this season, as after Ascot he has finished second twice in two Group 1’s.
We also have the Wokingham winner Rohaan at the head of the market and he will be ridden by Ryan Moore. Since Royal Ascot, Rohaan has lost his way, finishing down the field in his last 3 starts. He will need to re-find that form from Royal Ascot to win here today.
Tim Easterby has had an incredible season so far and he has Art Power in the race who won a Group 3 in good style at the Curragh last time out. I like the chances of Creative Thought for William Buick, who will be looking to get his hands on the Champion Jockeys title at the end of the day. He has won here at Royal Ascot in the Jersey Stakes over 7 furlongs at the start of the season and was a strong fifth in the July Cup at Newmarket finishing well.
Selection – Creative Force 6/1
2:35
This should be a penalty kick for Snowfall if she can run to anything near her best form. She looked unbeatable at the start of the season and she was one of the most impressive winners of the Epsom Oaks of all time. However, she has run twice in France and been beaten both times quite convincingly, but this is a big drop-in class from her run last time out when she was sixth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Selection – Snowfall 4/5
3:10
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes looks an absolute belter of a race between two of the best milers in the world. Palace Pier has the slight edge at the moment as he has won the Lockinge, Queen Anne and the Jacques le Marois at Deauville last time out.
The William Haggas trained Baaeed is the new kid on the block, and he has been mightily impressive in every run this year and is still unbeaten. I’m going to stick with Palace Pier as he has done nothing wrong this year and he has been doing it at the highest level.
Selection – Palace Pier 6/4
3:50
Adayar has already won the Derby and the King George this season, plus he came fourth in the Arc on ground that was definitely not to his liking. He will take on Mishriff in the Champion Stakes, and Adayar has already beat him this season in the King George. However, Mishriff produced a dazzling performance next time out in the International Stakes at York.
Addeybb has only run once this season as he was over in Australia at the start of the year and he won the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. He will need to improve on that form, but he is definitely not without a chance here today.
Selection – Adayar 15/8
4:30
The last race of the day and the end of the flat season is the Balmoral handicap and Sunray Major for John Gosden has just sneaked into the race. He has looked brilliant in his last two runs and he could well be a Group horse running in a handicap.
Nugget for Richard Hannon is another horse who has impressed me. He came back from a break to win at Haydock last time out and if he can progress again, he will not be far away at all. At a big price Escobar could be the each-way play as he loves a big handicap race and if he runs to form, he could nick a place.
Selection – Nugget 8/1
The Champion Jockeys’ Title
The race for the Champion Jockeys’ title will go down to the last race on Champions Day. Oisin Murphy will be trying his best to retain his title, but William Buick will be fighting him all the way to the end and he will have the slight edge on the the final day as he has one extra ride than Oisin Murphy.
Oisin Murphy has four rides on Champions Day
- Dragon Symbol – 2:00
- Tribal Craft – 2:35
- Alcohol Free – 3:10
- Sir Busker – 4:30
William Buick has five rides on Champions Day
- Roberto Escobarr – 1:25
- Creative Force – 2:00
- Master Of The Seas – 3:10
- Adayar – 3:50
- Matthew Flinders – 4:30
*All odds correct at time of writing.
