It’s the flat’s biggest finale, and what a send off in store! This year sees the very best of the British and European Champions battle each other out one final time. We’ve a mouthwatering battle in the Champion Stakes and competitive action in both the Sprint Stakes and Balmoral Handicap. Let’s get stuck into Five of the best races of the year.
Nothing But Love
1:55 – British Champions Sprint Stakes (GROUP ONE) – Unequal Love @ 11/1 (Unibet)
There’s one interesting trend with this race. No former Group One winners have a good record in the race. In fact, Muhaarar was the last horse to win a sprint Group One and this race. Kinross did win the G1 Prix la Foret over seven before winning this, but not won a Group One six furlong sprint.
The other factor is repeat winners of the race are very very rare. No horse has done it recently, and due to the competitive nature of the race. It’s unlikely it will happen again.
It’s soft ground overall and Unequal Love looks like the best candidate to take this race out. She has soft ground form when breaking her maiden over a soft six furlongs at Ripon. She also finished a close fourth on soft ground at the end of last season, before winning on April good ground this year. After winning the Wokingham at the Royal meeting in June, she holds every chance.
Each-way plays are useful in this race, with James’s Delight the perfect example. A fantastically progressive horse, who loves a bog. He won on heavy ground at Pontefract by six-and-a-half lengths. Ryan Moore gets the leg up, having won on him in the Macmillan Sprint at York back in June. Definite value at 14/1 (William Hill).
Elite Status didn’t hit the heights in the Haydock Sprint Cup, but wrong tactics let him down that day when he led the field. He does like to be prominent but wants to sit behind the pace. He won twice at the start of the season and has soft ground form from his two-year-old season. Definite top-three chance. 14/1 (General).
Back To Happiness
2:35 – British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (GROUP ONE) – Content @ 6/1 (William Hill)
After her no show in the Prix Royallieu, Content is back up to her perfect distance of a mile-and-a-half. She’s versatile with her ground too, after winning on soft ground as a two-year-old. With weight being given to her, she’s the top rated horse in the race and experienced at Group One level. Draw nine on the round course might not suit her, but Ryan Moore can produce rabbits out of his hat at will.
I quite like the chances of some of the European runners today, particularly Quantanemera. She beat Arrest on very soft (soft) ground at Deauville over 12 furlongs, which stands her in good stead. On her form, it looks like the softer the better for her and against the girls, she can be dangerous. Interesting at 15/2 (General).
Fan-a French Fillies
3:15 – Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (GROUP ONE) – Tamfana @ 100/30 (William Hill)
Tamfana was due her Group One a couple of weeks ago at Newmarket, and she won it against experienced opposition on soft ground. Dominant can’t explain her performance any better. Now up against the boys too, I think she’s got a massive chance. Particularly with three-year-olds 8/10 in the last ten renewals. One of the top rated, and a trainer in form, it’s worth taking on the favourite.
Another one to note is Prague. He won in spectacular fashion at the Cambridgeshire meeting in the Joel Stakes, against two mud lovers. He finally found his conditions last time out and will have them here again. After making a big step up to Group Two level last time, will he handle the bigger step up to the top level. He’s got ground and form on his side, so is worth having. 12/1 (William Hill, BetVictor, Unibet).
Calan The Dragon
3:55 – Champion Stakes (GROUP ONE) – Calandagan @ 13/8 (William Hill, BetVictor, Unibet)
After an incredible season, are there any holes to poke at Economics. Yes. Is one and only two-year-old run came on heavy ground, which resulted in him finishing fourth. And he hasn’t run on any surface similar to that this season.
Calandagan on the other hand has been ultra consistent. Firstly, he won by six lengths at Ascot which is a big plus. Secondly, he was best of the rest in the International Stakes, closing the gap on City Of Troy to a length, and finished three lengths in front of Ghostwriter. He’s won on softer ground in France over 10 furlongs, which is another big positive. He’s drawn to the inside of the course which is another positive. He can become a worthy champion, and follow in Sealiway’s footsteps on British Champions Day.
Royal Rhyme presents fantastic each-way value. If you look a little more closely at his inconsistent form, bar the International Stakes, he has always finished close to the finish. He was only three lengths away in a bunch finish in the Irish Champion Stakes and the best part of two lengths last in a tight York Stakes. His only win this season came over ten furlongs at Sandown on soft ground, and he’s been waiting for these conditions all season. Far too big at 50/1 (General).
One For The North
4:35 – Balmoral Handicap – Lattam @ 14/1 (William Hill)
One more trip down the Royal Mile this season and prepare for a slog. Which will suit Lattam down to the ground. Formerly with William Haggas, he won the Irish Lincolnshire on soft to heavy ground. He finished second in this year’s Lincoln at Doncaster, and best form comes on soft ground. He’s drawn on the, traditional, bias on the far side. He’s back to a mark of 95, the same as his second in the Lincoln. Expect him to go near.
Bopedro is never far away in these handicaps. A slightly up and down season has seen him finish second and third, latterly in the Ascot Challenge Cup. He was rated 102 on British Champions Day last year, and is down to a six pound lower mark. Best performances for him come with soft in the title, so expect him to run a race true to form. 12/1 (BetVictor).
And one more for the in form David Menuisier, Toimy Son. He comes into the race, two pounds well in after finishing third in the Cambridgeshire. He seems to have ground versatility, but the majority of Menuisier’s love the soft conditions. Drawn to the far side, he’s got a slight advantage on the soft underfoot. 14/1 (BetVictor).
The very best of luck!
