Champions Day at Ascot

Friday, 14 October 2011: The new programming for Autumn racing in the UK sees an Ascot card with the QEII and the Champion Stakes the highlights.


With the weather looking as if it will cooperate it should be a great day, starting off with the "Long
Distance Cup" over 3200m with 10 horses 3y+ to run the G2 race. Opinion Poll has proved he can stay
and is on top at 13/8. While Fame and Glory is a lovely horse there is nothing to say he will get this
trip and his 5/2 looks very skinny. Times Up however has won over this trip and in track record time so
7/2 looks about right but we might also put in Chiberta King who followed him home in that race and is
20/1.

The Sprint Stakes over 1200 looks good for Deacon Blues who stayed home for this instead of going to
the Abbaye, as did Moonlight Cloud. They are on 2/1 and 3/1 with next best Society Rock 6/1.

The F&M Stakes is G2 over 2400m and we are going below the quoted favourites and have found
Crystal Capella at 11/2, Banimpire who put in a good run at Longchamp and is 15/2 and Meeznah 10/1.
Ferdoos is talented but has been off the track since May so 7/2 looks skinny.

The QEII is over the mile as usual and is being run some 3 weeks later in the season. Frankel of
course is the stand out here with only Excelebration and Immortal Verse being given any chance to
catch him but we think they will have another good view of his rear quarters.

And then the Champion Stakes over 2000m with 12 to go to post. Of course it is our former champ So
You Think who has taken all the headlines - he produced a great finish in the Arc but so did Snow Fairy
and she's here too and at 7/1. Nathaniel didn't go to Longchamp but nobody would have caught
Danedream on the day. Midday won last year and is 13/2 and Cirrus des Aigles is paying a visit to
England also on 7/1.