Ascot Champions Day Preview

It’s Ascot Champions Day this weekend, where the very best of the best come together for a fantastic day of racing. There are five group races on the card, followed by a competitive handicap to round things off.

Here is a look at three of the best races of the day and our fancies.

2:00pm Champion Sprint

The horse we like in the Champion Sprint is Art Power from the Tim Easterby yard. He comes here in search of his first Group One win, having won twice at Group Three level, including last time out. He’s ran well over the summer in top company, but fell a little short, including when finishing third here at the Royal Meeting in the Group One Diamond Jubilee.

Last time out he went over to Ireland and was a very impressive five lengths winner of a Group Three at Naas. Yes, he faces much tougher competition here, but this isn’t at strong as the race he contested at Royal Ascot, and there is a case to be made that he has the best form in the race, despite not winning a Group One before.

He is the first of our fancies to kick off Champions Day.

3:10pm Champion Mile

The hotly anticipated clash happens, with three year old Baaeed taking on the four year old Palace Pier. Both are exceptional horses, and both have shown a high level of form this season so far, winning at this level.

Both will enjoy the ground here, which will be on the soft side of good, but given his upward trajectory and the 3lb weight allowance he gets as a younger horse, we have to side with Baaeed here. The William Haggas runner won at Longchamp last time out, he has ran five times in his career and won them all, only starting to race in June.

It seems strange to say, because we have already seen a high level from him, but there could even be a little more to come from this runner and he is our pick in what should be a cracker.

3:50pm Champion Stakes

The final race to look at is the Champion Stakes, where both Mishriff and Adayar take each other on. Mishriff came to life at York last time out, which was great to see, while Adayar was a little disappointing in the Arc, and may be starting to feel the effect of a long, hard season.

With that in mind, rather than choosing here it may be best to stick with an old, reliable yard stick which is Addeybb. He’s had some time off and comes here fresher than his rivals and on top of that, he is at his best when there is cut in the ground, which he gets here.

Rather than focusing on the front runners, an each way punt on Addeybb may be the way to go.

Ascot Champions Day Best Bets:

• 2:00 – Art Power – 9/2
• 3:10 – Baaeed – 9/4
• 3:50 – Addeybb EW – 15/2

All prices with 888Sport