ASCOT RACECOURSE - 17th OCTOBER 2020
Celebrating ten years of Britain's richest race day.
October 17th will see another star-studded finale to the British Flat season played out on the Ascot turf, as the leading horses and jockeys from Europe and beyond descend on the world’s most famous racecourse in their quest to be crowned the champions of this truly unprecedented year’s racing. As the culmination of the QIPCO British Champions Series, the six top-quality races have been graced by countless heavyweights of the international Flat racing scene over the years, and the 10th anniversary of ‘the Ultimate Race Day’ will once again stage a star-studded card.
Naturally due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic this years event will be taking place behind closed doors. With live ITV coverage from 1pm on Saturday at least the nation's richest race day will be available to watch live from the comfort of your own home.
Going: Soft [Heavy in places].
Weather: The last meeting here was lost to the rain but so far the forecast is for a dry but cloudy Saturday, a high of 12C though. The Going will probably stay on the soft side though.
Here are the six races for this afternoon, begins with a Group 2 stayers event, then the four Group 1s, and a quality handicap to conclude with.
13:20 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 2)
1m 7f 209y [Class 1 13 runners]
We start off Champions day with Stradivarius running in the long distance race, a Group 2 that should be easy for him unless the combination of soft ground (which he has won on before) and the exertions of his Arc race a couple of weeks ago have taken their toll. He did however get beat in this last year by Kew Gardens and there might be a couple of place bets against the obvious favourite here. Would side with Irish St Leger winner SEARCH FOR A SONG [D Weld] 2nd 8/1 coming over from Rosewell House stables, and also the runner up in that contest and previously an easy winner of the Ebor at York FUJAIRA PRINCE [R Varian] 3rd 10/1.
Winner - (8) Trueshan @11/1 [Hollie Doyle].
13:55 Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1)
6f [Class 1 17 runners]
Our first Group One now and while proven on Soft going Dream of Dreams still seems too short in a field of such quality here so will oppose the favourite again. OXTED was a Group One breakthrough for Cieren Fallon winning the July Cup and has been off since then. Happy Power has been progressing through the ranks but the top level you want something with a bit of proven form and we go with ONE MASTER [3rd 11/2] who picked up his G1 at Longchamp on Arc day and heavy ground.
Winner - (5) Glen Shiel @16/1 [Hollie Doyle].
14:30 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1)
1m 3f 211y [Class 1 12 runners]
The ladies turn now over the near 12f trip, we've only seen John Gosden's MEHDAAYIH [4th 8/1] once this year and was out the back in the Prince of Wales Stakes at the Royal meeting. However surely better than that run and given a chance to win a G1 here today with Frankie Dettori in the saddle at his favourite course. WONDERFUL TONIGHT [Won 4/1f] won at the Arc meeting and if this isn't too soon should be in the mix as well, while the Irish challengers could see JP O'Brien to the fore with his 3yo filly THUNDERING NIGHTS.
Winner - (12) Wonderful Tonight @4/1 [W Buick].
1m [Class 1 14 runners]
The straight mile now for our third Group One event, we've another short favourite here with the unbeaten Kingman colt PALACE PIER (4/6f) trained by John Gosden and of course the mount of Frankie Dettori. Likely to be hard to beat if handling the soft ground, but we'll have a look at two with a chance for the place market at least. The first one will have to be CIRCUS MAXIMUS who scored for us here at the Royal meeting and has been campaigned at G1 level since that win in the Queen Anne stakes. Also interested in DARK VISION from Mark Johnston at a massive price (f/c 50/1), wouldn't really be the biggest shock if this one placed.
Winner - (9) The Revenant @5/1 [PC Boudot].
15:40 Qipco Champion Stakes (Group 1)
1m 1f 212y [Class 1 11 runners]
Our final Group One and the highest prize money on offer here the Champion Stakes has a field of 11 from Uk, Ireland and France. ADDEYBB [Won 9/1] was runner up in this last year to Magical and has enjoyed a successful season therefore one to consider even on softened ground. Of the John Gosden pair Frankie has picked MISHRIFF instead of LORD NORTH, the latter won here for James Doyle and he might beat Frankie once again.
Winner - (1) Addeybb @9/1 [Tom Marquand].
16:15 Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored By Qipco) (Str)
1m [Class 2 20 runners]
Our finale is a 20 runner handicap (easy eh) should be about 7/1 the field here and we'll pick out SOLID STONE [2nd 16/1] with Hollie Doyle riding for Sir Michael Stoute having already secured her most successful season this would be a big win. While Irish raider NJORD [WON 15/2] (Jessica Harrington) has form on the soft ground, experience of large field handicaps and Tom Marquand in the saddle looks an e/w snip at 12/1. Good Luck
Winner - (9) Njord @15/2 [Tom Marquand].
A great meeting for us, several winners, first and second in the finale too, Great day for Hollie Doyle and partner Tom Marquand too. Well done both.
We return on Monday with an update for our final Pontefract meeting which will take place that afternoon.
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