British Champions Day is one of the highlights of the flat racing season, and all eyes head to Ascot on Saturday 18th October for the crescendo to a sparkling campaign on the level. Our GG tipster Steve Chambers has delved through the form guides and picks out his best three bets on the card in our British Champions Day tips special.
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2.05 Ascot – LAZZAT (1pt win – 9/2 William Hill)
Jerome Reynier’s LAZZAT was sitting top of the sprinting ladder in the aftermath of his fine victory over Santono Reve in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot back in June, but since then the French speedball has disappointed at both Deauville and Haydock. The last run in the Sprint Cup was certainly his worst for a while, as he could only finish fifth of 17, but a return to Ascot could see him recapture his best form. The sprint division is extremely wide open and there’s been little dominance by any sprinter this season, but Lazzat can show his class here and get the better of the likes of Big Mojo and last year’s winner Kind Of Blue. On his day, Lazzat is the best of these, so you have to take a chance on him recapturing his best form and he can storm to victory here.
2.45 Ascot – KALPANA (1pt win – 3/1 generally)
Hugely impressive when winning this race 12 months ago, KALPANA can do the Fillies & Mares Stakes double at 2.45pm, as Andrew Balding’s class act can bounce back from disappointment in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and show she’s still one of the stars of this division. She will encounter different ground to last year’s success and astonishingly she’s failed to get her head in front since that win last October, but she should be able to outclass her rivals in this year’s contest as well. Seventh in the Arc, she was always finding it tough that day against the boys, but returning to take on her own sex should mean it’s much calmer waters for her. Drawn in stall 7, she should be able to gain some cover through the early stages and turning for home she can emulate last year’s run by storming through to the front pulling clear to retain the prize.
4.40 Ascot – SHOUT (1pt win – 6/1 generally)
Simon & Ed Crisford’s SHOUT ran away with an Ascot handicap over one mile at the start of September and the Godolphin raider can emulate that course and distance success in the Balmoral Handicap at 4.40pm. Storming to a two-and-three-quarter length victory in that contest off a mark of 91, the three-year-old son of Advertise will line up off a 9lbs higher mark in this more competitive contest. However, a mark of 100 certainly looks within his capabilities and with Oisin Murphy in the saddle then the exciting miler can potentially win this ahead of targeting Pattern company next season.
British Champions Day Tips For Saturday 18th October