Champions Day, Ascot Racecourse...

With the weekend just around the corner all eyes look to Ascot Racecourse for the richest fixture in the british racing calender (worth £4.2 million to be precise).. the thilling, Flat Season Finale..

QIPCO British Champions Day! Saturday October 15th 2016...

Watch the Champion Jockey crowned, this year that crown goes to Jim Crowley and Josephine Gordon for Champion Apprentice plus parades, family fun, tours of the racecourse, dj's and more.

I will be attending this year thanks to the Stobart Club and Great British Racing, and with such quality races, looking forward to the day with much anticipation and excitement!

Current going: Good, run on the outer course...

My Predictions for the big day are as follows:

Racing kicks off at 1:25 for the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup.. (group 2) 2M

10 declared including:

1. Forgotton Rules - DK Weld / Pat Smullen / draw 8
2. Gold Prince - Sylvester Kirk / Adam Kirby / draw 10
3. Litigant - Jospeh Tuite / James Doyle / draw 5
4. Nearly Caught - Hughie Morrison / Umberto Rispoli / draw 1
5. Order of St George - Aidan O Brien / Ryan Moore / draw 9
6. Quest for More - Roger Charlton / George Baker / draw 6
7. Sandro Botticelli -John Ryan / Frankie Dettori / draw 7
8. Sheikhzayedroad - David Simcock / Martin Harley / draw 3
9. Suegioo - Richard Fahey / Paul Hanagan / draw 2
10. Simple Verse - Ralph Beckett / Oisin Murphy / draw 4

Thoughts: Order of St George looks the horse to beat with Aidan O'Brien in terrific form partnering with Ryan Moore and having run 3rd in the Prix de l'arc de Triomphe recently.  Simple Verse for Ralph Beckett should be a worthy opponent and David Simcock's Sheikzayedroad could be up near the front runners, having won last time out at Doncaster.

Predictions: WIN:  Order of St George / EW: Simple Verse / EW: Sheikzayedroad

'Order of St George' cc sportinglife

2:00 QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (group 1) 6F

14 declared including:

1. Brando - Kevin Ryan / Tom Eaves / draw 7
2. Don't Touch - Richard Fahey / Tony Hamilton / draw 1
3. Growl - Richard Fahey / Graham Lee / draw 8
4. Jack Dexter - Jim Goldie / Daniel Tudhope / draw 4
5. Librisa Breeze - Dean Ivory / Robert Winston / draw 6
6. Mobsta - Mich Channon / Pat Smullen / draw 12
7. Signs of Blessing - F Rohaut / Stephane Pasquier / draw 2
8. The Tin Man - James Fanshawe / Tom Queally / draw 3
9. Twilight Son - Henry Candy / Ryan Moore / draw 11
10. Donjuan Triumphant - Richard Fahey / Alexis Badel / draw 13
11. Mr Lupton - Richard Fahey / Jamie Spencer / draw 5
12. Shalaa - John Gosden / Frankie Dettori / draw 10
13. Mecca's Angel - Michael Dods / Paul Mulrennan / draw 14
14. Quiet Reflection - Karl Burke / Dougie Costello / draw 9

Thoughts: The Ontoawinner syndicate will be hoping Quiet Reflection can add to her £626,000 winning prize money, but with Burke having no wins in October and commenting recently that a few horses have been coughing could go against their chances.  Henry Candy's Twilight Son with Ryan Moore could provide the toughest competition.  Shalaa for John Gosden could give Frankie Dettori a win having been impressively unbeaten in his last 6 outings and Fanshawe's The Tin Man is worth keeping an eye on.

Predictions: Win: Twilight Son / EW: The Tin Man / EW: Quiet Reflection

'Twilight Son' cc sky sports

2:35 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (group 1)  1M4F

13 declared including:

1. Bateel - David Simcock / William Buick / draw 9
2. Bocca Baciata - Mrs John Harrington / Stephane Pasquier / draw 10
3. California - John Gosden / Robert Havlin / draw 7
4. Journey - John Gosden / Frankie Dettori / draw 11
5. Maleficent Queen - Keith Dagleish / Philip Makin / draw 6
6. Speedy Boarding - James Fanshawe / Frederik Tylicki / draw 12
7. Zhukova - DK Weld / Pat Smullen / draw 1
8. Architecture - Hugo Palmer / James Doyle / draw 4
9. Even Song - Aidan O Brien / Jamie Spencer / draw 2
10. Pretty Perfect - Aidan O Brien / Seamie Heffernan / draw 8
11. Promising Run - Saeed Bin Suroor / Jim Crowley / draw 5
12. Queen's Trust - Sir Michael Stoute / Andrea Atzeni / draw 3
13. Seventh Heaven - Aidan O Brien / Ryan Moore / draw 13

Thoughts: I'll be cheering on James Fanshawe's Speedy Boarding, having 2 group 1 wins with Freddy on board this season already, i'd love to witness their third but Aidan O'Brien's Seventh Heaven has rapidly improved and Dermot Weld's Zhukova is one to watch.

Predictions: WIN: Speedy Boarding / EW: Seventh Heaven / EW: Zhukova

'Speedy Boarding' cc sportinglife

3:10 QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (group 1) 1M

13 declared including:

1. Adaay - William Haggas / Paul Hanagan / draw 11
2. Barchan - Roger Varian / James Doyle / draw 1
3. Breton Rock - David Simcock / Andrea Atzeni / draw 6
4. Hathal - Willian Haggas / Pat Cosgrave / draw 10
5. Lightning Spear - David Simcock / Oisin Murphy / draw 7
6. Mitchum Swagger - David Lanigan / Jamie Spencer / draw 3
7. Awtaad - Kevin Prenergast / Chris Hayes / draw 12
8. Galileo Gold - Hugo Palmer / Frankie Dettori / draw 9
9. Hit It A Bomb - Aidan O Brien / Seamie Heffernan / draw 4
10. Ribchester - Richard Fahey / William Buick / draw 2
11. Stormy Antarctic - Ed Walker / George Baker / draw 5
12. Jet Setting - Adrian Keatley / Shane Foley / draw 13
13. Minding - Aidan O Brien / Ryan Moore / draw 8

Thoughts: Hugo Palmer's Galileo Gold could be in with a chance if luck is on his side but it's Ribchester that has improved throughout the season and Minding for Aidan O'Brian who are dominating the betting.

Predictions: WIN: Minding / EW: Ribchester / EW: Galileo Gold

'Minding' cc racingpost

3:45 QIPCO Champion Stakes (group 1) 1M2F

11 declared including:

1. Fascinating Rock - D Weld / Pat Smullen / draw 10
2. Gabriel - Richard Fahey / Jimmy Fortune / draw 7
3. Jack Hobbs - John Gosden / William Buick / draw 9
4. Maverick Wave - John Gosden / Robert Havlin / draw 4
5. My Dream Boat - Clive Cox / Adam Kirby  draw 3
6. Racing History - Saeed Bin Suroor / Silvestre De Sousa / draw 5
7. The Grey Gatsby - Kevin Ryan / James Doyle / draw 8
8. Found - Aidan O Brien/ Ryan Moore / draw 11
9. Almanzor - J C Rouget / Christophe Soumillon / draw 1
10. Midterm - Sir Michael Stoute / Andrea Atzeni / draw 6
11. US Army Ranger / Aidan O Brien / Seamie Heffernan / draw 2

Thoughts: The best 3 yr old colt in Europe, trained in France, Almanzor  gave up the chance to run in the Arc in favour of the Champion Stakes here at Ascot and having beaten rival Found in the Irish Champion Stakes last month, there are plenty of reasons to back him.  Can Found turn the tables on Almanzor this time around, Aidan O'Brien seems to think so claiming he has never trained a more 'genuine' horse.  Last years winner Fascinating Rock with Pat Smullen is still a contender.

Predictions: WIN: Found / EW: Almanzor  / EW: Fascinating Rock

'Found' ccdailymail

4:25 Balmoral Handicap (class 2) 1M

23 declared including:

1. Gm Hopkins - John Gosden / Ryan Moore / draw 8
2. Tullius - Andrew Balding / Jimmy Fortune / draw 7
3. Firmament - David O Meara / Daniel Tudhope / draw 16
4. Master The World - David Elsworth / Pat Dobbs / draw 5
5. Here Comes When - Andrew Balding / Jamie Spencer / draw 14
6. Bronze Angel - Marcus Tregoning / Louis Steward / draw 22
7. Chil The Kite - Hughie Morrison / George Baker / draw 20
8. Emell - Richard Hannon / Kieran O Neill / draw 2
9. Sea Wolf - GM Lyons / Colin Keane / draw 19
10. Morando - Roger Varian / Harry Bentley / draw 3
11. Dream Walker - Brian Ellison / Chris Hayes / draw 23
12. Yuften - Roger Charlton / Andrea Atzeni / draw 1
13. Third Time Lucky - Richard Fahey / Adam McNamara / draw 21
14. Highland Colori - Andrew Balding / Liam Keniry / draw 6
15. Instant Attraction - Jedd O'Keeffe / Jack Garrity / draw 11
16. Donncha - Robert Eddery / Pat Smullen / draw 15
17. Remarkable - John Gosden / Robert Havlin / draw 9
18. Mutarakez - Brian Meehan / Paul Hanagan / draw 10
19. Zhui Feng - Amanda Perrett /  Jim Crowley / draw 17
20. Afjaan - William Haggas / Frankie Dettori / draw 12
21. Silent Attack - Saeed Bin Surror / James Doyle / draw 13 non runner
22. Dutch Law - Hughie Morrison / draw 4 non runner
23. Dinkum Diamond - Henry Candy / Oisin Murphy / draw 18 non runner

Thoughts: Gm Hopkins for John Gosden and Ryan Moore is an obvious choice but the highest weight.  Morando has won last 3 starts for Roger Varian and goes under Harry Bentley again this time.  I'm going for Afjaan for William Haggas and a flying dismount from Frankie Dettori to end the day!

Predictions: WIN: Ajaan  / EW: Third Time Lucky / EW: Mutarakez

'Silent Attack' cc Godolphin

As always Channel 4 will be covering the action, so if you can't attend, there's no excuse not to be watching!

For more info go to: British Champions Series and ascot.co.uk

See you trackside!

Evie xxx