Ascot Champions Day Preview

Although not the official end of the flat season, the Ascot Champions Day fixture has turned into a season closer for the flat turf season in the UK.

It is brilliant to see so many runners declared for the meeting, with the ground currently forecast to have heavy patches in it. The forecast may improve that between now and Saturday when the racing begins, but the best we can hope for is genuinely soft ground.

Here are three selections we like this weekend, our NAP of the meeting plus a couple at bigger prices to look out for.

Palace Pier to Land Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

If there is a horse on show this weekend who is destined for stardom then it is certainly Palace Pier. He’s made a huge impression, winning back to back Group 1 races in his last two runs and he can make that three with a win in the Queen Elizabet II Stakes.

This horse has only ran five times, there could be more to come from him and if you take one horse into next year with you, choosing this one would not be the worst choice to make.

There are a few short priced favourites across the meeting this weekend, we rate Palace Pier as the best of those and make him our NAP of the meeting.

Soft Ground a Huge Help for Addeybb

Multiple Group 1 winner Addeybb is known for his preference of soft ground. Not only does he handle it better than other horses, but he actually thrives under these conditions, and he won’t mind any further rain.

The same certainty we have about him handling conditions is not the same for many other horses in this race, and it could be a really big advantage.

This horse may lack a little in quality compared to some others, but he will love conditions and act better than most in them, and for that reason there is every chance he gets into the frame at least.

Sovereign an Interesting Challenger to Stradivarius

Much of the talk for the opening Long Distance Cup is about how Stradivarius will come out of the Arc and compete here. At his best, he can pick these up and carry them home to victory, but that isn’t guaranteed.

Rather than working that out, it is best to look for an alternative at a bigger price, and we have landed on Sovereign. He’s chased home some good horses over shorter, including Enable, and has looked ready for a step up in trip.

He was a little disappointing last time out but Ryan Moore has chosen to stick with him and that is a big sign that more is expected from this horse over these kind of trips. We are going to stick with him at a nice each way price in the opener.

Ascot Champions Day Best Bets

• Palace Pier WIN @ 8/11 (Betfair)
• Addeybb EW @ 9/1 (Betfred)
• Sovereign EW @ 14/1 (Genting Bet)