Huge clashes and big fields promise a highly entertaining day at Ascot on Saturday. For the Champions Day showdowns, Matty Sutcliffe has picked out four value punts, including a 50/1 selection in the British Champions Sprint Stakes.
1:30 Ascot – Qipco British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 2) (2yo) – Siren Suit 12/1 1pt EW 3 places
Mill Reef winner Words Of Truth was slightly fortunate to win that race last time out as the eventual second looked to have the race sewn up before hanging awfully left to the centre, leaving the door wide open for the Godolphin runner.
Five lengths behind in third there was Flying Comet, who was only four lengths behind Division in the Rockingham last time out so there might not be all that much between that pair, with the latter also a very progressive colt.
The one who looks overpriced is the Cheveley Park colt SIREN SUIT for the Gosdens and Rob Havlin, who is still fairly unexposed himself after just three starts. Not a lot was expected on debut at Newbury when a 17/2 chance under Luke Catton but he stayed in a nice manner under tender handling.
Siren Suit built on that effort when a three-quarter length third here over five furlongs to Wise Approach in an Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial Conditions Stakes, with the winner now rated 114 after finishing third in the Group One Prix Morny before winning the Group One Middle Park.
Wise Approach and Super Soldier displayed more early speed than Siren Suit there, who had nowhere to go once the pace lifted but was still traveling well, before eventually staying on too late in an eye-catching manner.
He wasn’t seen until earlier this month when stepped up to seven furlongs at Kempton, with William Buick controlling the fractions up front under a slow gallop before quickly putting the race to bed under a sharp turn of foot. He’s untried over six furlongs, but his efforts over five and seven suggest this intermediate distance on a stiff track will bode well for his blend of speed and stamina.
His dam loved Ascot, finishing fourth in the Albany before winning the Princess Margaret both over C&D, and she was later third in the Jersey as a three-year-old, and her unexposed son of Churchill can follow suit.
2:05 Ascot – Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Run To Freedom 50/1 1pt EW 4 places
RUN TO FREEDOM was an excellent third for the column when staying on well to place in the July Cup behind No Half Measures and Big Mojo, with the latter subsequently winning the Haydock Sprint Cup.
The form was reversed at Haydock next time out, but Henry Candy suggested he caught something in his mouth throughout the race causing him to cough after, which led to him stopping in his tracks. I don’t think Haydock is particularly his track, as he was well-beaten in that contest in 2023 as he was in a Conditions race earlier that season prior to breaking a course record at Salisbury.
While he is winless at Ascot, his course and distance efforts include a three-length tenth in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes, a two-length fourth in the Bengough and a career best effort when a two-length second to a peak Kinross in this contest in 2022. He’s posted three credible efforts since, and he also boasts a second to Shaquille in a July Cup, so he’s certainly capable of showing strong form in these Group 1 sprints and it looks inevitable for him to land one at some stage.
A middle draw suits him well as, and this quicker surface will also suit him more than most at this time of year. Rob Hornby steps in for the injured Trevor Whelan who has a respectable record when teaming up with Henry Candy and this battle hardened son of Muhaarar, who won this race in 2015, can post another credible effort in a bid to emulate his sire.
2:45 Ascot Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1) (Class 1) (3yo+) Wemightakedlongway 9/1 1pt EW 3 places
Just one winner of this race in the last ten years has come from stall six or lower (Magical 2015) which negates my initial confidence in Estrange and Waardah, for all that pair would likely prefer it softer regardless.
WEMIGHTAKEDLONGWAY just ticks that box, and the Australia filly can get back to winning ways now stepping up in trip. She lowered the colours of Minnie Hauk this time last year when making all in a smart manner, before backing that up with a third in the Eyrefield Stakes at Leopardstown. She shaped as if needing the run on debut in the Ballysax behind Delacroix and Lambourn though far from disgraced in fifth, and she bettered that effort when landing the Salsabil Stakes again making all to fend off Ribblesdale third Catalina Delcarpio.
Wemightakedlongway lost little in defeat when fourth in the Oaks behind Minnie Hauk, Whirl and Desert Flower, nor did she when fourth in the Pretty Polly behind Whirl and Kalpana. She then gave Minnie Hauk a good race up the straight in the Irish Oaks, who just had enough power to beat her a length late on and she franked that form healthily with her second in the Arc.
She was then sent off favourite for the Prix de l’Opera earlier this month and once again lost little in defeat to be beaten half a length in a blanket finish, but given both of her wins have come second time up after a break she might’ve needed that effort, and she’s likely to be primed for this.
She shaped there as if this step back up in trip will suit, and if building on last time out/returning to that Irish Oaks third, she can serve it up to Kalpana in receipt of 6lbs providing she can adopt an early prominent spot from stall six.
3:25 Ascot Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored By Qipco) (Group 1) (Class 1) (3yo+) Never So Brave 10/1 1pt EW 4 places
The jury is out on Field Of Gold who prior to defeat in the Sussex looked unbeatable for the rest of the season, but at a general 7/4 he has to be taken on returning from a setback. NEVER SO BRAVE gets the nod, as this improving son of No Nay Never is yet to hit his ceiling in Group races over a mile.
He tailed off toward the end of his three-year-old season for Sir Michael Stoute but as documented throughout this season that wasn’t all that unusual. He was a shade unfortunate not to get up at Chester on yard debut in a race that’s thrown up multiple winners, but there was nothing unfortunate about the way he demolished the Buckingham Palace House Stakes field off top-weight.
He came down the stands-side rail cruising under Oisin Murphy, and sharply put the race to bed to win going away by two and a quarter lengths, posting the highest RPR (120) in the race in the last ten years.
Never So Brave immediately marked himself as a Group horse there, and proved capable of coming off a strong gallop over course and distance when collaring Point Lynas late on a shade cosily next time out.
He then went to the Group One City Of York Stakes over seven furlongs and again settled comfortably off a strong pace set by Quinault and Audience, but he was the only one a furlong out still travelling comfortably and once Oisin Murphy pushed the button the response was immediately, with Rosallion failing to get past late on. That form has worked out well with the third Maranoa Charlie landing the Foret next time out, Rosallion finishing second in the Moulin, Exactly beaten half a length by Fallen Angel in the Matron and Annaf winning the Bengough.
He’s one of the only rapid improves in this field and with him now proven over course and distance and possessing the ability to come off a strong pace, he makes serious appeal.
Looking For More Racing Info? Check Out Our Racecards & Top Tips Sections
Make sure you’re following us on all our social media platforms to keep up to date with all the latest horse racing news and the best tips.