Alex Hammond previews the Champion Stakes at Ascot
Sky Sports Racing presenter Alex Hammond Has a look at the feature race at Ascot on British Champions Day.
Sky Sports Racing covering are seen by this Saturday and Im delighted to be present. A card is but I will focus the Champion Stakes, on the significant one here. It has been documented that this race is one of three run to the (inner) hurdle monitor, but that usually means the earth will not be as testing as first feared. Having said that, a love of ground is crucial.
William Haggas five-year-old was well beaten in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in this meeting 12 months ago, but that has been his very first run since May of the year as he didnt receive the soft earth he favors. Hes been busier this season and he has not done a great deal whilst he had been disappointing in the Huxley Stakes at Chester back in May. He finished a respectable second to Elarqam in York at the end of July, overcome Magic Wand to win against the Wolferton after the deluge in the Royal meeting in June beat Pondus in ground last time out. Thus far however, he has come in the maximum level and the ground may not be testing to level the playing area.
Theres no doubt but he has a quirk. A quarter and this mile is the trip, but whether he wants the floor tender is up for discussion. Conditions are maybe the least of the troubles, on his day he could give all these a true fright and there is an opportunity that with age comes more adulthood, so not one to write , however we might not find the best of him before next season with a bit more experience under his belt.
This classy mare eventually got a well-deserved Group 1 success to her name at the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in June and just like buses, she then made it two in the highest level using a win in the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville a month or two ago on her latest start. She was desperately unlucky not to reel in Magical from
the Champion Fillies and Mares with this card last year and I think shes well capable of earning it a hat-trick of Group 1s in states that are right up her road with Mr Ascot, Frankie Dettori in the saddle.
Japans sweetheart showed she can cut it against the some of the greatest females in Europe after winning the Nassau at Goodwood and is unlucky to not have potentially ripped two European Group 1s when denied success in the Irish Champion Stakes when acquiring no type of conduct. Shes been big prices every time shes put foot on the street in the united kingdom and Ireland, but should not be overlooked in the Champion Stakes in which she appears capable of making her presence felt. As she seems to be far more effective on a sounder 20, the negative has to be the ground.
Aidan OBriens second string looks like playing a role to her stablemate Magical that is better. The trip stretches her, with her finest attempts over seven furlongs and a mile. That being said she ran into the race of her life in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes 12 months after beaten a neck from Roaring Lion, but was a mile and anything has never reproduced like that since.
What a mare she is. Shes danced every dance this season, only finishing out of their two once since her triumph at the Fillies and Mares with this card this past year. Out when fifth at that and the Prix de lArc de Triomphe wasnt a bad effort by any way This came last time. She is unfortunate as she has completed runner-up for her three times in the maximum level in the past 12 months to be at precisely exactly the exact identical time as Permit, however theres no Enable in this and shes got a wonderful chance of winning once. She is tough and exceptionally talented, although there would have to be a concern about the times she has laid herself online this season. Conditions will have no fears for her either.
Im a fan of Fox Tal and believe that he could step up to the plateas well as a leading light in the secure as a four-year-old next year of Andrew Balding. Last month he also pulverised his competitors in a Requirements Stakes and I think he has the makings of a top class colt whilst he has to prove at the level. The floor is really a complete unknown, but he has. Hes a big each-way participant for me.
Hes a lot to do on evaluations, but what he can have in his favour is your floor. He thrives when conditions are like this. Id be surprised if he is good enough to ruffle some of those feathers, although the trip suits him well.
This filly looked very smart to be fair she hasnt done a great deal wrong since then and when winning back the Cheshire Oaks in May. The Oaks was a shambles for her and that I thought that she was unlucky not to acquire against the Nassau Stakes. You can set a line because she was far too keen and the day as a whole just didnt pan out nicely for Frankie Dettori. She will appreciate conditions and she provides John Gosden a second string to his bow.
Its likely it wont be soft enough for him, although addeybb is a sand fan that is verified. The horses I want in my side will be John Gosdens duo; MEHDAAYIH along with CORONET. Coronet was definitely and has really come into her own this season a bit unlucky in the Fillies and Mares on this day this past year behind winner Magical. Its interesting theyve decided to go for this race rather than the Fillies and Mares and shes in the form of her lifetime.
Mehdaayih is evening and you may put a line through her run at ParisLongchamp on Arc daily, since she pulled too hard and she seems significance to me . Shes done very little wrong other and when she has not gone across the top for this period can run another race. I think a race cans run at an adequate price. Its sure to be a cracking contest.
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