QIPCO British Champions day is here!
The best of the best. 6 races, 4 Group 1’s, and surely the day Baaeed signs off his racing career with a perfect unbeaten record. Here’s my take on the action, plus an old-timer running at Kempton on the Sunday card.
The Long Distance Cup gets us off to an incredibly juicy start. Both Coltrane who beat Trueshan last time out and Quickthorn who scored impressively at York might catch your eye at double figure prices, but for me this is a race between the top two in the betting.
This 2 miler round ascot will decide between the battle hardened Trueshan and the up and coming Eldar Eldarov.
In Just 5 starts the exciting Eldar Eldarov has a Royal Ascot win and a St Leger to his name but I think this might be one climb up the ranks too far for a 3 year old.
Trueshan’s 3rd at Goodwood behind Kyprios and Stradivarius looks good enough to win this race and if you can look past his most recent run at Doncaster Trueshan should come back and win this for the 3rd time in his career.
Rohaan finished 18th of 20 in this race last year but that was his 13th run of the year and the trainer said he ran flat after a busy campaign.
If you ignore that race then Rohaan is 4 wins from 4 runs at Ascot in his career, with 2 handicap successes and two Group 3’s. He has only been out the top four on four occasions this season, and after a lesser campaign has every right to go close.
One at a bit more of a price that might be worth a look is Brad the Brief for Hugo Palmer and Manor House stables. This horse has taken big forward strides this year and remains somewhat of a dark horse, with only 2 starts so far. An entry (NR) in the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup of note.
Emily Upjohn’s Oaks 2nd to Tuesday after blowing the start is some of the best form on offer but at 4/1 having not backed that run up since is too short for me.
Trying to find some value in the field I settled on Lilac Road. Although only getting her nose in front once this year at York that performance was followed by a 3rd in the Nassau stakes won by Nashwa, a 4th in the Yorkshire Oaks won by Alpanista, and then a 2nd over in France in the Prix Vermeille.
That’s a hat-trick of solid performances in top company, and I think she could be overpriced.
Inspiral is absolutely the one to beat for me here. So impressive when making her comeback winning the Coronation Stakes in Royal Ascot week, showing what a talent she is.
Beaten next time out at Newmarket at 2/5 was disappointing but thought to be the result of it coming too soon after Ascot, and on firm ground.
Confidence should have been restored after winning in France and she has every right to be around an even-money favourite for this. If the rain comes down Jadoomi is the obvious E/W angle.
Quite simple the Baaeed show! For me this isn’t a betting affair, it is time to sit back and just enjoy the best horse on planet earth at present.
Fingers crossed everything goes to plan, and given that it’s his last race I hope Jim Crowley lets us see a little more of Baaeed and asks him to really quicken.
“Group horse in a handicap” is a phrase thrown around a lot and one that is fitting for Bashkirova. 4 races this season, 4 in listed company or better, and 1 Derby weekend success to her name.
Since that triumph at Epsom this horse has been near the top of the betting but disappointed on the track. I wonder if Bashkirova is not quite good enough for Group level, but in here off a mark of 104 connections would hope to go close against this field.
How can you not love Sceau Royal?
This 10-year-old just keeps on racing his heart out. Last season over fences – wasn’t far behind the likes of Greaneteen, Fakir D’oudairies, and Funambule Sivola.
Prior to that over hurdles was 3rd behind that great battle between Not So Sleepy and Epatantes, and a winner no less of this very race!
He has no issues going fresh, and provided the old boy is still loving his work he is the one to beat here for me.
NAP TREBLE:
Inspiral
Baaeed
Sceau Royal
EW BET:
Lilac Road
Frankie
