QIPCO Champions Day

QIPCO Champions Day promises to be the jewel in the crown of British Racing, with Racing for Change putting every possible resource into promoting the richest day of British Horse Racing to date, and with five Group races, three of which being Group One, promises to be a momentous day, irrespective of the winners and losers on Saturday.

The long distance cup is a two mile encounter, with the best stayers in the country finally culminating their various cups at York, Goodwood, Doncaster and Royal Ascot here on Champions Day. Ascot Gold Cup hero Fame and Glory is yet to be officially declared to run, but signs from the stable look positive, and he is obviously a massive threat, although there are question marks after his two recent disappointing efforts over 1m 6f. Colour Vision ran a cracker to finish third in the Cesarawitch, and clearly stays all day. As does the Sir Mark Prescott horse Motrice, who finished third behind Opinion Poll and Saddlers Rock at Doncaster. It is hard to see past OPINION POLL, who looked to not see out the extended trip in the Doncaster Cup over 2m 2f. He travelled like a dream and came to the 2 furlong poll on the snaff, and the drop back in trip should help the dual Goodwood and Yorkshire cup winner, putting Frankie in the winners enclosure at Ascot once more.

The sprint division has been ruled this season by a few star performers, notably Hoof It and Dream Ahead, but in general it has been wide open. Society Rock, Bated Breath and Night Carnation have all put in good performances, but the Qipco Champion Sprint Stakes seems to come down to MOONLIGHT CLOUD and DEACON BLUES. Moonlight Cloud went off favourite for the 1000 Guineas, and seemingly didn't see out the trip, as seen when being the comfortable winner of Prix Maurice de Gheest over 6 1/2 furlongs at Deauville. The other star performer is the winner of The Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot is Deacon Blues. He has since won three Group 3 races with relative ease, and teh step up in class looks to be no problem whatsoever for the skeleton, James Fanshawe.

The fillies and mares race over a mile and a half looks another toug, puzzling contest, with seemingly many chances. Meeznah was impressive at Doncaster over an extended trip, and Oaks heroine Dancing Rain completed a double when taking the German equivalent to add to her Epsom crown. Last year's winner Crystal Capella has shown glimpses of her class, most notably when the Princess of Wales Stakes at Newmarket. The answer seems to lay at the foot of the two most unexposed sorts, who finished 1-2 in a listed race earlier in the season. FERDOOS just got the better of decent yarstick Vita Nova. Ferdoos looks to be very interesting, and the daughter of Dansili has still only raced four times, despite being a four year old. The form of the Haydock only makes her look even more impressive, with Vita Nova, Meeznah and Crystal Capella all behind her in second, third and fourth. That bare form line means she should have more in the locker, providing trainer Roger Varian has her right for the day.

It would be very difficult to oppose FRANKEL in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, and so instead, we will lastly focus our attention on the QIPCO Champion Stakes, which looks an abundance of riches, and many horses will reoppose since running in the Arc, showing how high a calibre of field, with at this current stage, with currently 9 Group One winners left in the field. So You think sets the standard over 10 furlongs, winning the Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes, but he is too short in such a high quality field and such an open race. Green Destiny looked to thrive on the 10f trip in his recent Group 3 win, as did Dubai Prince in his comeback run in a listed race, but both could be out of their depth. King George winner Nathaniel is running over a trip that isn't his optimum, something that cannot be said about Circle Des Aigles. The french raider has been a model of consistency this year, with his best runs coming on softish ground over 10 furlongs, so a downpour could make him a very live threat. He has yet to finish out of the front three this season, all of which in Group company, and the gelding has never been beaten further than two lengths. The Sir Henry Cecil pair of Midday and Twice Over finished 1-2 in the International Stakes, and will surely run their usual consistent races but age may be catching up with the tried campaigners.

1.50 Opinion Poll

2.25 Deacon Blues

3.00 Ferdoos (Nap)

3.35 Frankel

4.10 Circle Des Aigles (Ew)

The Yorkshireman - Jack Milner