It may be the strongest ever British Champions Day at Ascot this Saturday and Andrew Mount is toasting it with a massive SEVEN best bets across the afternoon at the Berkshire venue.
Posted: 2.19pm, Friday, October 17th
2.05 Ascot – LAZZAT (1pt win – 4/1 generally) & JAMES’S DELIGHT (0.5pt e/w – 66/1 generally, Sky Bet paying five places)
I’m keen to oppose BIG MOJO in the Champions Sprint Stakes as he looked flattered from his favourable high draw when landing the Sprint Cup at Haydock last time. The big eyecatcher from that race was fifth placed LAZZAT, who started as the even-money favourite and emerged clear best of those to race down the centre of the track where the ground was considerably slower than the stands’ side. The four-year-old won over course and distance at Royal Ascot and can bounce back today.
Best of the each-way alternatives could be JAMES’S DELIGHT, my selection in this race last season when an 18-1 eighth of 20. Clive Cox’s four-year-old looked a shade unlucky not to place that day, blowing the start and racing on the far side of the track when all the action was near side. He’s only had four runs this term, catching the eye when fifth at Doncaster on his comeback where he did too much too soon into the headwind and leaving a modest effort at Chantilly behind him when scoring at 22-1 in the Group 2 company at the Curragh in late May. He was roughed off for the summer before his 50-1 last of 17 to big Mojo at Haydock but he was poorly drawn that day and his yard was out of form (they had just two domestic winners from 46 runners from September 1st until October 5th. Things have picked up since, with three winners from nine runners in the past week or so and he’s worth chancing at a massive price.
2.45 Ascot – WAARDAH (1pt win – 6/1 generally) & KALPANA (1pt win – 3/1 generally)
Owen Burrows’ WAARDAH took her record on right-handed tracks to 111 (3-3) when justifying strong support in the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood (advised in this column) and, while drawn slightly lower than ideal and needing to improve on the clock, she still looks worth a bet.
KALPANA won this race last year and Andrew Balding’s four-year-old is a major contender again despite failing to get her head in front this term. Her seventh of 17 in the Arc was better than it looked as she challenged wide from a difficult draw, and she has won or placed in all 12 starts in Britain/Ireland, recording form figures of 121231113222 (5-12). I shall also play the pair in a reversed forecast.
3.25 Ascot – DOCKLANDS (1pt e/w – 14/1 Ladbrokes)
DOCKLANDS – my 14-1 winning nap at the Royal meeting – loves Ascot and his Queen Anne victory took his course record to 1132221 (3-7), suggesting that he’s going to be hard to keep out of the frame now returned to his favourite venue. It’s interesting to note that Harry Eustace’s five-year-old earned his best-ever non-Ascot RPR (Racing Post rating) when a close-up fourth at Deauville last time and he looks over-priced. I’ve saved on NEVER SO BRAVE.
4.05 Ascot – CALANDAGAN (1pt win – 11/4 generally)
The Champion Stakes is undoubtedly the race of the season, and I can’t resist a bet on CALANDAGAN, despite the obvious claims of market leader OMBUDSMAN. Since gelded after tasting defeat on his juvenile debut his record reads 12111222211 (6-11) including 1m4f Group 1 wins the last twice. The drop back to what should be a strongly-run 1m2f won’t inconvenience and he went close in this race 12 months ago.
4.40 Ascot – THEORYOFEVERYTHING (0.5pt e/w – 40/1 bet365, 33/1 generally)
THEORYOFEVERYTHING has yet to win in a big field but has caught the eye on his last three starts, finishing seventh of 17 over course and distance in Shout’s race (travelled better than the winner until meeting trouble and switching to the outside), second of 14 to the gambled-on Thunder Roar at Ayr and fifth of 12 to stablemate Cerulean Bay when hampered at Goodwood (18-1). He could be a candidate to find traffic trouble again if they all bunch up the far side but if they split into two or more distinct groups, I can see him running a huge race at odds of around 33-1. His only other Ascot start saw him score over this trip in September 2024 and his yard won this with an 80-1 shot three years ago. He’s a good stats fit for this race – nine of the past ten winners were drawn in stall 10 or lower, fourth or lower in the weights and had last raced between one and 27 days ago. Backing all 56 qualifiers returned a profit of £113.00 to a £1 level stake at SP (+£144.80 at Betfair SP after 2% commission).
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets
2.05 Ascot – LAZZAT (1pt win – 4/1 generally) & JAMES’S DELIGHT (0.5pt e/w – 66/1 generally, Sky Bet paying five places)
2.45 Ascot – WAARDAH (1pt win – 6/1 generally) & KALPANA (1pt win – 3/1 generally)
3.25 Ascot – DOCKLANDS (1pt e/w – 14/1 Ladbrokes)
4.05 Ascot – CALANDAGAN (1pt win – 11/4 generally)
4.40 Ascot – THEORYOFEVERYTHING (0.5pt e/w – 40/1 bet365, 33/1 generally)
Andrew Mount’s Horse Racing Tips – Saturday, 18th October
GG Lucky 15 tips – Four horse racing tips for Saturday 18th October
Even beyond Champions Day there is so much racing action to enjoy on Saturday. GG tipster Joe Napier has looked to the remaining cards to pick out four best bets for our Lucky 15 tips on the day. 11.56 Catterick – MAFTING (1pt e/w – ) The unexposed Aajej and inconsistent Ghaiyya are both well…
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