Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
It is Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday, a meeting that can throw up some decidedly strange results some of which cannot be described as Champions.
There are just six races on the card and ITV Racing are showing all of them. There are four Group 1s, a Group 2 and a Class 2 handicap to try to find the winners. Last year, these races threw up winners with SP’s of 9/1, 40/1, 22/1, 5/1, 3/1 and 25/1. Admittedly, the ground was bottomless last season, and the forecast looks a lot better this time around, with the ground described as Soft.
So, I’ve looked through the card to find some value. There are plenty of old favourites running, and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Ascot Lucky Fifteen
1.20. Sweet William
1.55 James’s Delight
2.35 Queen Of The Pride
4.35 Holloway Boy
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
The first race on the card is the Group 2 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup, which is run over 2 miles. The wonderful Kyprios was a fine winner at Longchamp earlier this month for trainer Aidan O’Brien, and just three weeks before that. He won at the Curragh, so he’s had a tough campaign, winning 6 from 6 in all.
Unsurprisingly, Kyprios is a short-priced favourite, but perhaps these contests have taken their toll, and there may be some value amongst the challengers.
The Gosden’s Trawlerman won this last year, beating Kyprios, but O’Brien’s charge got his revenge at Royal Ascot, and Trawlerman has not run since.
Tom Clover’s Al Nayyir won well at Newmarket last month, showing he’s in form and should go well.
But I prefer another Gosden horse, Sweet William, who was third in this last year, and although he has lost twice to Kyprios this season he has not been disgraced. He showed he is in form when winning at Doncaster last month and can give the favourite a race.
The 1.55 is the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes. This is a Group 1 run over 6 furlongs. Last year’s winner, Art Power, returns to try and retain his crown. However, he has disappointed this season for trainer Tim Easterby.
Ralph Beckett’s Kinross is one of the favourites after winning at Doncaster last month, then running second at Longchamp a fortnight ago. He won this in 2022 but has not quite reached those heights since.
William Haggas’s Montassib won at Newcastle in June then followed that up by winning the Sprint Cup at Haydock in early September beating many he faces here. He has had a break since and is sure to be involved at the finish.
James Fanshawe’s Kind Of Blue was second at Haydock, beaten just a head by Montassib, and he is another who can be involved—perhaps even reversing the places.
Haggas also runs Unequal Love, who was third in the Sprint Cup, but she won a handicap over this course and distance at the Royal meeting.
I go for Clive Cox’s James’s Delight, who won at York and Deauville in June and July. He returned to Deauville in August and was only beaten a short head by Karl Burke’s Spycatcher in a Group 3. I feel he is one flying under the radar.
The Qipco British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes is at 2.35. This Group 1 is run over 1m 4f. Andrew Balding’s Kalpana has had a tremendous season. The 3-year-old has consistently moved through the grades, winning handicaps, a Listed race, and, latterly, a Group 3 on the all-weather at Kempton last month, but this is tougher.
Sir Mark Prescott’s Tiffany is another who has had a fine season and was last seen when winning a Group 2 at Baden-Baden at the end of August.
Andreas Suborics’s Quantanamera comes over from Germany to try and claim this valuable prize and she is well fancied in some quarters. She won a Group 2 at Deauville in August but this is much tougher.
Harry Charlton’s Time Lock looked impressive when winning a Group 3 at Newmarket last month, and she can go close.
The Gosdens run Danielle and Queen Of The Pride and it is the latter that interests me most. She won two Group races at Haydock in June and July, then was inexplicably last of eight, beaten 25 lengths in a Group 1 at York in August. Hopefully, the Gosdens have sorted out whatever what was wrong and got her right for this. She is my choice.
Finally, it is the only handicap on the card. The Balmoral Handicap is at 4.35, and this Class 2 is run over Ascot’s straight mile. Karl Burke has been very successful with his string on recent Saturdays on ITV, and he will be hoping that Thunder Run continues his run of good fortune.
His 3-year-old has won three times this season latterly at York in August where he beat several opponents he meets here. He will go close.
Burke’s other runner, Holloway Boy, was third that day, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, but is 3lbs better off here. He has since won at Haydock and has the ability to take this.
William Haggas’s Elnajmm won twice earlier in the season, including over this course and distance, but has disappointed since.
Marco Botti’s Daysofourlives has run consistently well all season and finally got his head in front at Doncaster last month. He can hit the frame.
I also like David Menuisier’s Toimy Son who won at Goodwood in August. He ran a fine third in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket last month, and a reproduction of that run will see him go very close, but I just prefer Holloway Boy.
Ascot Lucky Fifteen
1.20. Sweet William
1.55 James’s Delight
2.35 Queen Of The Pride
4.35 Holloway Boy
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Related Reading