Saturday’s Horse Racing Preview & Tips- 17th October 2026 – Seymour Biz

Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.

This Saturday sees Champions Day at Ascot, with ITV Racing covering all seven races from the Berkshire course. I can’t pretend it’s my favourite punting day of the year with only one handicap on the card. It is really a day to watch these magnificent champions race against each other rather than to look for profitable bets, but that would be against my nature.

The card consists of five fantastic Group 1s, a Class 2 Conditions race for 2-year-olds and a top-rated Class 2 handicap to round the day off. I have trawled through the card to try and find the best value and here are my thoughts and this week’s Champions Day Lucky Fifteen.

*Please note race timings may change

Champions Day Lucky Fifteen
1.30 Gregory
2.05 Prince Of India
3.20 Ten Bob Tony
4.35 Colori Forever
Bet this lucky 15 on Betfred

At 1.30 it is the Qatar Racing British Champions Long Distance Cup, a Group 1 race run over 2 miles. The current favourite is George Scott’s Caballo De Mer, who won over 2m 4f at Longchamp a fortnight ago having won over 2m 2f at Doncaster the previous month. Could he find this trip on the sharp side?

Joseph O’Brien’s Highwayman has won his last three, including the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster last month. He steps up in trip here.

Alan King’s Daiquiri Bay has won a couple of top-rated handicaps this summer. However, this is a big step up in class.

John and Thady Gosden’s Gregory won a Listed race at York in June, then raced over 2 miles in a Listed race at Newmarket last month and thrashed a quality field, winning by 11 lengths. He is a past Group 2 winner here at Ascot and can make this step up in grade.

The Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint Stakes is at 2.05. This Group 1 is run over Ascot’s sharp 6 furlongs. William Haggas’s Almeraq is the warm favourite here after the manner in which he won the Sprint Cup at Haydock in September, coming home by over 4 lengths.

Haggas also runs Division, who has been plying his trade at 6 furlongs this season. He looks a miler in waiting.

James Fanshawe’s Kind Of Blue was 5th at Haydock but has since won at Kempton in preparation for this.

Karl Burke’s Soul Love claims the filly’s allowance, and she showed plenty of power when winning the Group 3 at the Curragh last month. She can go close.

A stable in form is Marco Botti’s, and he has Prince Of India in this. He won a Listed race at Newmarket in August then ran a close second at Ascot earlier this month, and I make him the selection.

At 3.20 it is the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, the richest race of the day. This Group 1 is run over the straight mile. Aidan O’Brien sends Gstaad over from Ireland, who is a dual Group 1 winner, but has had to settle for a place on his last three outings.

F-H Graffard’s Rayif won a Group 1 at Deauville in August, but he has not been seen since, after having problems. He missed the Arc meeting for this.

Charlie Appleby’s Talk Of New York won twice in the spring then disappointed on two occasions, including when odds-on at Goodwood in July. He bounced back by winning a Group 2 at Newmarket last month. This is tougher.

Eve Johnson Houghton’s Zavateri won a Group 1 as a 2-year-old but lost his way this season until toying with a classy field at Goodwood in a Group 2 in August. A step up in class is possible.

For me, the horse of the season has been Ed Walker’s Ten Bob Tony. He won the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot over this course and distance, then was hampered at Goodwood and short of room at York. His latest run at Longchamp, where he finished second, showed he is back to his best, and Walker states he is in great order and this race will be perfect for him.

The only handicap on the card is at 4.35, the Class 2 Balmoral Handicap run over the straight mile. William Haggas’s Crown Of Oaks returns to defend the crown he won last year. He ran a fine second at Sandown last month, but he has 7lbs more to carry than last year.

Haggas also runs Scoville, who won at Doncaster last month, beating several he meets once again here. He is sure to go close.

John and Thady Gosden’s Gavriel won a Class 3 over 1m 2f at Ascot in September, then ran 4th under a penalty at Newmarket later in the month.

The Gosden’s also run Fifth Column, who won four times last season but has disappointed this term when meeting his elders.

Muir and Grassick’s Ebt’s Guard has had a busy season and his third to Scoville at Doncaster last month was probably his best run to date.

I go for a Marco Botti horse, Colori Forever. He won at Ascot in May, ran second in a Listed race in July and his last two runs have been in Group company. The booking of Ryan Moore is noted.

Champions Day Lucky Fifteen
1.30 Gregory
2.05 Prince Of India
3.20 Ten Bob Tony
4.35 Colori Forever
Bet this lucky 15 on Betfred

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