The richest day of the British racing calendar draws the flat season to a close with the QIPCO Ascot Champions Day this Saturday. With an enticing £4 million in prize money, the meeting attracts some of the best thoroughbreds of the season. It’s the final say really of who is the best over all the distances: think of it as a Cheltenham Festival of the flat season but crammed into one day. Our concern as always, however, is finding the winners and hopefully we can continue with our winning ways after our successful autumn double selections in the big Newmarket handicaps! For this meeting, I suggest a £10 staked 4 or 5 horse multi-stake accumulator (check here for suggested bets: www.howtobet4free.com/betting-tips/betting-blog/picking-right-accummulator-bet/ ) to maximise the enjoyment of the day, kicking off with the opening race The QIPCO British Long Distance Cup.
The Long Distance Cup 13.25
The almost indomitable Aidan O’Brien holds the ace of spades in this opening leg in the shape of the 4 year old Order Of St George. He is possibly a shaky favourite after his inexplicable beating in the Irish St Leger at odds of 1/7 but ran a blinder for third in the recent Arc De Triomphe to warrant a general price of 4/5. Despite the form not being totally bombproof, I can’t see anything else getting near him so I would include as the banker on the card.
The British Champions Stakes 14.00
The 6 furlong sprint contest looks to be a slightly more competitive affair. The KR Burke trained Quiet Reflection leads the market at 7/2 best (with Betfair) and this exciting 3 year old has had a superb season, winning 4 races including The Commonwealth Cup (course and distance win) and is clearly improving with every race. However, I’m tempted to bypass the favourite and pounce on the fairly unexposed Shalaa who has had just the one run this season. He was the British juvenile champion last year and his latest run at Ascot will have him spot on for this. He may just find some fatigue in Quiet Reflection’s long season with a bit of fresh stamina. He is best to back at 13/2 with Bet Victor and Paddy Power.
The British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes 14.35
A slightly trickier problem to solve in this 1 m 4 furlong contest. Zhukova (7/2 best with Bet Victor and Ladbrokes) is clearly one for the mix considering he beat the O’Brien trained US Army Ranger in his last outing at Leopardstown. However, Aiden O’Brien may well find sweet revenge with Seventh Heaven who has already notched up group wins with the Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oats this season. Nonetheless, I am going to ignore the front two in the market as I was particularly impressed with the way the John Gosden horse, Journey, asserted himself in his last race at Newmarket. The way he stayed on that day suggests he could well be at the business end of this contest at decent odds of 8/1 at Betfair.
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes 15.10
The second biggest race of the day is, almost needless to say, dominated by the Ballydoyle team whose charge Minding, last year’s 1000 Guineas winner, looks set to claim a third win in the contest for trainer Aiden O’Brien. I think he will be able to handle the drop back in distance, as versatility has certainly been a hallmark of O’Brien’s sensational season. Minding didn’t have an ideal race in his last run at Leopardstown, being hampered near the start and probably found the 1 m 2 furlongs in soft ground less then suitable. The going is faster at Ascot and this should bring the best back out of him. He is best priced at 2/1 offered at most leading firms including SkyBet, Bet365 and Betfred.
The Champions Stakes 15.45
The prize of the day. £737, 230 to the winner in what looks like a formality for the exciting Almanzor who interestingly bypassed the Arc to compete in this. This may turn out to be a shrewd option sticking to the shorter distance and considering his all-conquering defeat of Found and Minding in the Irish Champions Stakes, he is difficult to oppose. Best odds of 13/8 which can be found at Betfred. New customers at Coral can get enhanced odds of 10/1 for Almanzor!
The Balmoral Handicap 16.25
The big field handicap is probably best left out of the accumulator option and punted on with a nice £3 each way to round off what should be a thoroughly entertaining day’s racing. For this one, I think Third Time Lucky will improve on his 4th in the recent Cambridgeshire and have a say. Handicapping wise, he’s still on a decent winnable mark of 101 and carrying 9 stone 1. He is best priced at 10/1 with Paddy Power and Betfair. And lastly SkyBet are offering 5 places e/w for the Balmoral Handicap
SELECTIONS:
13.25: ORDER OF ST GEORGE (5/6 Betfred, Bet365, SkyBet)
14.00: SHALAA (13/2 Bet Victor, Paddy Power)
14.35: JOURNEY (8/1 Betfair)
15.10: MINDING (2/1 SkyBet, Bet365)
15.45: ALMANZOR (13/8 Betfred)
16.25: THIRD TIME LUCKY (10/1 Paddy Power, Betfair)
Good luck at Ascot tomorrow and look out for my preview of the new National Hunt season for next Friday!
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