Champions Day, Ascot 2017...

Another  year has galloped passed and the curtain comes down on the Flat Racing Season as it draws to a close, which can only mean one thing...

Champions Day 2017 at Ascot is upon us with the QIPCO Champion Stakes, Europe's
most valuable race worth a staggering £1.3 million alone, the day offers over £4.3million prize money in total! The day includes 4 Group One's and we see some top class horses take to the course.  Now in it's seventh year, this Saturday will once again see the stars of the season compete..

Jim Crowley took the crown last year, so who will be Champion Flat Jockey this weekend? At 2:15pm Silvestre De Sousa will be crowned with over 150 wins this season, beating last years winner into second place..

Congratulations to Champion Apprentice David Egan with his 53 wins, beating Kieron Shoemark's 52 wins... that was close!

Jim Crowley crowned Champion 2016...

Here are my thoughts on the day and the runners, I must stress, I am not a tipster, these words are my own thoughts... good luck to all in finding some winners & most importantly, best of luck to all jockeys and horses, stay safe...

Current going is: Soft
(as I write) weather forecast looks like Storm Brian will bring rain and winds up to 50-70 mph, so hold on to your hats..  'it's gonna be a bumpy ride!'

Regular outer track to be raced on...

Racing kicks off with a rather exciting race, in the ..

1:25pm 2m (1m7f209y) Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+)
13 Runners 
Stalls Advantage: Inside

1- Big Orange - Michael Bell - James Doyle - 9/2
2- Cap'N - B Powell - Mitch Godwin - 500/1
3- Clever Cookie - Peter Niven - Jamie Spencer - 28/1
4- Dartmouth - Sir Michael Stoute - Jim Crowley - 12/1
5- Duretto - Andrew Balding - Graham Lee - 12/1
6- Nearly Caught - Hughie Morrison - Adam Kirby - 50/1
7- Order of St George - Aidan O'Brien - Ryan Moore - 5/4F
8- Sheikhzayedroad - David Simcock - Martin Harley - 16/1
9- Stars Over the Sea - Henry De Bromhead - Fran Berry - 66/1
10- Torcedor - Mrs John Harrington - Colm O Donoghue - 20/1
11- Desert Skyline - David Elsworth - Silvestre De Sousa - 10/1
12- Mount Moriah - Ralph Beckett - Harry Bentley - 33/1
13- Stradivarius - John Gosden - Frankie Dettori - 6/1

My thoughts:  Almost every horse in this race deserves to win, Sheikhzayedroad won this race last year but it's another Big Orange Vs. Order of St George battle to start the day, however, I think ground could go against Big Orange.. I'm liking the chances of Stradivarius, he's improving all the time, with a previous win at Ascot and low in the weights. 

My Predictions: EW - Order of St George & Big Orange / WIN - Stradivarius

2:00 6f Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1) (3yo+)
13 Runners declared
Stalls Advantage: Centre

1- Brando - Kevin Ryan - Tom Eaves - 20/1
2- Danzeno - Michael Appleby - Frankie Dettori - 40/1
3- Donjuan Triumphant - Andrew Balding - P J Macdonald - 50/1
4- Librisa Breeze - Dean Ivory - Robert Winston - 16/1
5- Tasleet - William Haggas - Jim Crowley - 14/1
6- The Tin Man - James Fanshawe - Tom Queally - 15/2
7- Tupi - Richard Hannon - Sean Levey - 66/1 - Non Runner
8- Washington DC - A O'Brien - Donnacha O'Brien - 33/1
9- Caravaggio - A O'Brien - Ryan Moore - 9/2
10- Harry Angel - Clive Cox - Adam Kirby - EVS
11- Intelligence Cross - A O'Brien - Seamie Heffernan - 100/1
12- Quiet Reflection - Karl Burke - Martin Harley - 6/1
13- Alphabet - A O'Brien - Wayne Lordan - 66/1

My thoughts: Well the name on everyone's lips will be, Harry Angel who romped home at Haydock last time out on ground no one thought he'd cope with, can he beat his rivals in classy style once again, well he just might, although his only 3 defeats have all been at Ascot... 
Aidan O'Brien has 4 runners, as it could be Caravaggio's last run, it would be nice to see him finish up front, Alphabet likes soft ground so conditions should suit, Intelligence Cross is in good form as is Washington DC who just needs luck on his side...  Two of my favourites, The Tin Man and Quiet Reflection are both good EW chances..

My Predictions: EW  Caravaggio & Quiet Reflection / WIN Harry Angel

Harry Angel after winning the Darley Cup at Newmarket cc East Anglian Times

2:40 1m4f (1m3f211y) Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1)
10 Runners
Stalls Advantage: Inside

 1- Alyssa - Ralph Beckett - Pat Dobbs - 16/1
2- Bateel - F-H Grafford - Pierre C Boudot - 7/2
3- Journey - John Gosden - Frankie Dettori - 5/2
4- Left Hand - C Laffon Parias - Maxime Guyon - 14/1
5- The Black Princess - John Gosden - Robert Havlin - 16/1
6- The Juliet Rose - N Clement - Stephane Pasquier - 16/1
7- Coronet - John Gosden - Olivier Peslier - 4/1
8- Horseplay - Andrew Balding - David Probert - 14/1
9- Hydrangea - A O'Brien - Ryan Moore - 5/1
10- Wild Irish Rose - A O'Brien - Seamie Heffernan - 50/1

My Thoughts: I was leaning towards a John Gosden double with Journey and outsider, The Black Princess, although Bateel is a very strong contender, will love the ground and has beaten Journey in the past.  And simply because i'm a left hander, I'm choosing Left Hand as a good EW chance...

My Predictions: EW Journey & Left Hand / WIN Bateel

3:15 1m (Str) Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1) (Sponsored By Qipco) (British Champions Mile)(Class 1) (3yo+)
15 Runners

1- Breton Rock - David Simcock - Andrea Atzeni - 50/1
2- Here Comes When - Andrew Balding - Jamie Spencer - 20/1
3- Lightning Spear - David Simcock - Oisin Murphy - 25/1
4- Ribchester - Richard Fahey - William Buick - 2/1
5- Toscanini - Richard Fahey - James Doyle - 100/1
6- Zonderland - Clive Cox - Adam Kirby - 25/1
7- Al Wukair - Andre Fabre - Gregory Benoist - 6/1
8- Beat the Bank - Andrew Balding - Jim Crowley - 9/2
9- Churchill - A O'Brien - Ryan Moore - 4/1
10- Lancaster Bomber - A O'Brien -Donnacha O'Brien - 25/1
11- Nathra - John Gosden - Robert Havlin - 40/1
12- Persuasive - John Gosden - Frankie Dettori - 16/1
13- Sir John Lavery - A O'Brien - Seamie Heffernan - 33/1
14- Thunder Snow - Saeed Bin Suroor - Christophe Soumillon - 14/1
15- Sea Of Grace - William Haggas - Daniel Tudhope - 33/1

My Thoughts: Ribchester is the one to watch whilst Al Wukair is likely to be retired after this race, being described by Fabre as a horse with 'a little bit of brilliance'.. it will also be Persuasive's last race if she runs, depending on the ground... with Beat the Bank and Churchill being the other main dangers.. I also really like Thunder Snow and is another EW chance to watch out for.. 12 of the last 14 winners of this race have all won a group one before, so something to keep in mind...

My Predictions: EW Churchill & Al Wukair / WIN Ribchester

3:50 1m2f (1m1f212y) Qipco Champion Stakes (British Champions Middle Distance) (Group 1) (Class 1) (3yo+)
10 Runners
Stalls Advantage: Inside

1- Desert Encounter - David Simcock - Sean Levey - 25/1
2- Highland Reel - A O'Brien - Ryan Moore - 7/1
3- Maverick Wave - John Gosden - Robert Havlin - 100/1
4- Poet's Word - Sir Michael Stoute - Andrea Atzeni - 13/2
5- Success Days - KJ Condon - Shane Foley - 40/1
6- Barney Roy - Richard Hannon - James Doyle - 4/1
7- Brametot - JC Rouget - Christian Demuro - 6/1
8- Cliffs of Moher - A O'Brien - Seamie Heffernan - 9/1
9- Cracksman - John Gosden - Frankie Dettori - 2/1
10- Recoletas - C Laffon Parrais - Olivier Peslier - 20/1

My Thoughts: Ulysses was described by Hannon as their 'biggest danger' and now he's out, I would just love to see Barney Roy win this race for the Richard Hannon team.  Cracksman, the Frankel colt, is the main danger, dropping in trip to 10 furlongs might put some off, but Frankie seems to have no issues and he's praying for rain, which he looks set to get, this could see a very exciting race... too much rain could prove not so good for Highland Reel however, stamina will be the key...

My Predictions: EW Cracksman & Poet's Word / WIN Barney Roy

4:30 1m (Str) Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored By Qipco) (Class 2) (3yo+)
20 Runners
Stalls Advantage: Centre

1- Firmament - David O Meara - James Doyle - 16/1
2- Master The World - David Elsworth - Joshua Bryan - 20/1
3- Speculative Bid - David Elsworth - Jim Crowley - 16/1
4- George William - Richard Hannon - Hollie Doyle - 20/1
5- Oh This is Us - Richard Hannon - Ryan Moore - 16/1
6- Accidental Agent - Eve J Houghton - Charlie Bishop - 12/1
7- Gabrial - Richard Fahey - Jamie Spencer - 25/1
8- Gm Hopkins - John Gosden - Robert Havlin - 14/1
9- Linguistic - John Gosden - William Buick - 20/1
10- Lord Glitters - David O'Meara - Danny Tudhope - 9/2
11- Dark Red - Ed Dunlop - Franny Norton - 16/1
12- Zabeel Prince - Roger Varian - Andrea Atzeni - 7/2
13- White Lake - Roger Varian - Jack Mitchell - 20/1
14- Eddystone Rock - John Best - Josephine Gordon - 33/1
15- Hors De Combat - Denis Coakley - Tom Queally - 25/1
16- The Grape Escape - Richard Hannon - Sean Levey - 10/1
17- Brigliadoro - Philip McBride - David Probert - 33/1
18- Qassem - Hugo Palmer - Frankie Dettori - 16/1
19- Withernsea - Richard Fahey - Paul Hanagan - 25/1
20- Greenside - Henry Candy - Harry Bentley - 25/1

My Thoughts: Any horse could win this, but I have a major soft spot for the Hannon trained Oh this is Us and brilliantly named, The Grape Escape, I saw his impressive win at Sandown in Sept and again Oct at Pontefract where he kept on strongly to the finish, although didn't run so well at Ascot before then, feel he is ready and can tackle this race more positively.. Another team on fire lately is the Eve Johnson Houghton / Charlie Bishop partnership, so Accidental Agent is on my radar... of course, I love a gray and Lord Glitters looked in great shape having his final canter on the gallops this morning...

My Predictions: EW Lord Glitters & Accidental Agent / WIN The Grape Escape

So in summary, my picks, and yes I realise i've not picked any O'Brien horses!

• Stradivarius
• Harry Angel
• Bateel
• Ribchester
• Barney Roy
• The Grape Escape

After the racing there will be an after party where the lovely, George Ezra will be playing to the crowd, so enjoy everyone!  You may also be the lucky person to drive away in a VW Polo Beats, prize draw at 4pm, don't forget to grab a ticket upon entry!

And if you can't make it,  ITV Racing will be broadcasting the action so you can watch from the comfort and warmth of your own home!!

Please Note: (All info as of 19/10/2017, subject to change, updates accordingly.)

Thank you for reading! Let me know your thoughts and picks of the day....

Evie xxx