Champions Day ante-post tips: three selections to consider
Harry Allwood looks ahead to QIPCO British Champions Day, live on Racing TV, and shares three ante-post fancies for you to consider.
The ground at Ascot, at the time of writing, is predominantly good, and with a relatively dry forecast between now and QIPCO British Champions Day, it looks likely conditions will remain the same.
That said, you can't always trust the British weather, and the ground has only been described as 'good' once in the past 11 years at the world-class fixture, but with above-average temperatures for October on the horizon, it seems wise to think the going will be on the quicker side on Saturday, October 21.
With this in mind, I have pinpointed three contenders who are not reliant on soft ground, and look to have a good chance of going close.
Don't forget, you can watch every race on QIPCO British Champions Day live on Racing TV.
Trawlerman
Race: QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup.
Best odds: 25-1.
The Verdict: Angus McNae uses Course Track sectionals to analyse Trawlerman's victory at Salisbury two starts ago
This five-year-old showed a brilliant attitude to win the Sky Bet Ebor last year before producing a fine performance in defeat to finish third behind Trueshan in this contest on ground that was softer than ideal.
That effort proved he is capable of competing at this level and although he failed to sparkle on two starts abroad at the beginning of the year, he returned with an easy victory at Salisbury in September where he clocked a decent time, despite being eased in the closing stages.
He again made the most of a good opportunity to win a Listed race at Newmarket when last seen, and while he was entitled to win his past two starts with a bit to spare, the manner of his victories suggest he has improved again this season.
Kyprios will be tough to beat if back to his best, but Trawlerman doesn't have a huge amount to find with Trueshan based upon last year's Long Distance Cup, nor does he have too much to find on ratings with the other potential leading protagonists.
It is also a positive that he arrives here a relatively fresh horse, and he definitely looks capable of outrunning his chunky odds if the ground is good or better.
Mostahdaf
Race: QIPCO Champion Stakes.
Best odds: 8-1.
Jim Crowley has advised that Mostahdaf is likely to take his chance in the QIPCO Champion Stakes if conditions are suitable, and that looks likely, so the general 8-1 on offer ante-post is worth taking.
Although the son of Frankel may have caused an upset when producing a career best in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, there was certainly no fluke about that performance, which he proved when winning the Juddmonte International last time out.
Those two pieces of form are strong, and a repeat of either effort will see him prove hard to beat here, so although there is, of course, the concern that he won't run if the ground is any worse than good, I'm surprised he's still available at 8-1 with most firms (he certainly won't be that price if he does line-up!).
The dual Group One winner clearly relishes this course and distance, and his record following a 58-plus day break reads 111111, so his absence since his victory at York is a positive.
Docklands
Race: Balmoral Handicap.
Best odds: 8-1.
Watch how Docklands fared in the G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes when last seen
It was hard not to be impressed with the way Docklands tanked through the race en route to winning a 0-85 handicap at Ascot in May on his fourth outing, and Harry Eustace's youngster again travelled powerfully when defying a 14lb rise over the same course and distance in the Britannia Stakes on his next start.
The three-year-old also landed a significant gamble at Royal Ascot plus was value for more than his half-length winning margin suggests given he pulled six lengths clear of the next best in his group on the unfavoured part of the track.
It was a shade disappointing that he could not go close on his first start at Group level at Goodwood last time out, as his previous efforts hinted he was a potential Group performer in the making, but he still performed with credit in defeat against higher rated rivals, and didn't appear to handle the track that well.
He now finds himself on a rating of 104 (10lb higher than his Royal Ascot success), but there is surely more to come with just six starts under his belt, and he doesn't appear ground dependant as he's produced his two career-best efforts on soft and good to firm ground.
A return to this course and distance will be a plus, too, and connections have advised that this contest has been the target since his Goodwood defeat.
