British Champions’ Day, the richest fixture in British racing history, will be introduced at Ascot in 2011 meaning that the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes will move to a devilishly attractive card in October after Saturday’s renewal of the famous race.
While Saturday’s action at Ascot will not be in the same league as British racing’s new pride and joy, there is still plenty of Group action for punters to sink their teeth into. Strong favourites in all three of the day’s feature races mean that the big hitters will be out in force and the bookies could take a hammering if the market leaders oblige. Nick Wilby takes a look at all Saturday's televised races from Ascot.
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1.55 Deloitte Rosemary Handicap (Listed Race) (Fillies & Mares) Cl1 1m
It only seems like yesterday that Michael Jarvis’ SAJJHAA (5/1, Ladbrokes) was lining up in the Epsom Oaks after attracting plenty of support on the back of one racecourse appearance. It was clear then that the filly was held in the highest regard by her formidable trainer and her career looked to be back on track when she cruised to victory at Bath last time out. The drop back to one mile on good ground seemed to suit her that day and the daughter of King’s Best is well up to taking this before moving onto better things.
A huge threat to the selection could be Ralph Beckett’s Forest Crown (14/1, Sky Bet) who was responsible for taking the scalp of Brian Meehan’s likeable filly Field Day earlier in the season and she was not far behind the selection last time out. She could run a big race, as could Godolphin’s Long Lashes (7/1, bet365) and John Gosden’s Thrill (9/1, Ladbrokes).
Selection – Sajjhaa (5/1, Ladbrokes)
2.30 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) Cl1 1m
This year’s Royal Lodge is all about the incredibly exciting FRANKEL (4/11, Paddy Power) who looked to be a superstar in the making when absolutely destroying a 90-rated rival at Doncaster in a decent time last time out. That was only his second racecourse appearance and Henry Cecil’s juvenile can justify the high regard he is held in on Saturday afternoon. It would be a huge surprise if he was turned over and there will be plenty of people expecting to see Tom Queally motionless on the 2000 Guineas and Epsom Derby favourite.
For those who are uninterested in a horse running at such cramped odds, Aidan O’Brien’s Treasure Beach (7/1, Ladbrokes) has never finished outside of the front two and Brian Meehan’s Happy Today (16/1, Victor Chandler) could be a lot more useful than his maiden success would suggest.
Selection – Frankel (4/11, Paddy Power)
3.05 Meon Valley Stud Fillies´ Mile (Group 1) Cl1 1m
Another race that looks at the mercy of the market leader and there will be some red faces at Ascot if the evidently talented WHITE MOONSTONE (evens, William Hill) is turned over on her fourth racecourse appearance. Group Two and Group Three victories have led her to a tilt at Group One Company and the unbeaten filly has sauntered past every horse she has tackled so far. The form of her latest victory in the May Hill does not amount to much but the manner of her victory was particularly taking.
Theyskens’ Theory (2/1, bet365) was a well-backed winner of the Prestige Stakes last time out and the more rain that falls on Ascot the better for Brian Meehan’s talented juvenile. There will be plenty of people arguing that she just seemed to handle the ground better than her rivals at Goodwood but she still looked very useful and will give White Moonstone’s 1000 Guineas credentials a real examination.
The only daughter of the sensational George Washington, Date With Destiny (16/1, Ladbrokes), takes her chance and it would be nice to see Richard Hannon’s superstar put up a performance – though she was well held by Theysken’s Theory in the Prestige.
Selection – White Moonstone (evens, William Hill)
3.40 totesport.com Challenge Cup (Heritage Handicap) Cl2 7f
No shot-priced favourites running in the Challenge Cup, although recent Ayr Gold Cup winner Redford (7/1, Ladbrokes) looks a poor price for this cavalry charge. The pace is sure to be as fast as they come, something Dandy Nicholls’ raider coped with in impressive fashion in Scotland last week. Frankie Dettori keeps the faith with the hold-up hero, but he is not one to be placing much faith in. After developing a reputation as being an in and out sort of horse it may be worth waiting for him to line up at greater odds in the future.
Make no mistake if he is in the same mood as he was last week he could be very hard to beat, but there are plenty of other attractive looking challengers, including Mark Johnston’s COLEPEPER (28/1, Paddy Power). Johnston has made a habit of plundering this sort of pot and looks to have a formidable challenge set to line up at Ascot. St Moritz (18/1, Betfred) may be the pick of the team in the market, but Colepeper looks vastly overpriced ,despite the fact Frankie prefers Redford.
Nobody could expect the legendary jockey to jump ship after the favourite’s success last week and the hugely talented French jockey Christophe Soumillon takes the ride on the selection. An impressive victory over 6f at Catterick last September led Colepeper to take his chance in Handicap Company this season and he has produced some very creditable performances since, including a victory at Brighton over 7f. Forced to challenge from wider than he would have liked last week at Ayr, he will relish the easing conditions at Ascot and he looks a tempting each-way opposition.
The exceptional Luca Cumani/Kieren Fallon combination is represented in the shape of Axiom (12/1, Blue Square), while the likes of Suruor (25/1, Sky Bet), Light From Mars (40/1, Ladbrokes) and Mia’s Boy (33/1, Paddy Power) all make plenty of appeal at huge prices.
Selection – Colepeper each-way (28/1, Paddy Power)
4.15 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored By Sony) (Group 1) Cl1 1m
The highlight of the day is undoubtedly the QEII and while the race will sorely miss multiple Group One-winning superstar Canford Cliffs, it still looks like there will be a fantastic battle between Makfi (evens, Sportingbet) and RIP VAN WINKLE (11/4, Ladbrokes) in store.
Makfi remains a lightly-raced colt with some tremendous form in the book, including a victory over the likes of Canford Cliffs in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket earlier in the summer. Delzangles’ three-year-old flopped at Royal Ascot next time out, but with excuses in place for that performance, the French raider bounced back to form to beat wondermare Goldikova at Deauville last time out. That was some performance and while Goldikova and Paco Boy may not have handled the ground as well as the winner, it was still a performance of some quality. That makes him the one to beat in the eyes of the bookies; although he will have to be at his very best if he is to topple Rip Van Winkle.
The highly-talented selection has had an indifferent season following his exploits in 2009, and he will be looking to make it back-to-back victories in this race. Aidan O’Brien’s son of Galileo looked back to his best when just getting up to win the Juddmonte International at York in August and his trainer and the ever-faithful Johnny Murtagh predicted great things for the rest of the season. However, the Ripper was one of the horses stunned by Cape Blanco in the Irish Champion Stakes earlier in the month and he failed to land a blow on soft ground, chasing home his stablemate in second place. A much more positive ride is on the cards on Saturday and he could take the sting out of Makfi’s challenge, much like he did with his rivals this time last year.
Poet’s Voice (15/2, Paddy Power) looks to be growing into a serious colt and arrives here on the back of an impressive success in the Celebration Mile at York, while Beethoven (20/1, William Hill) will once again take his chance at odds far too big for one of his ability.
Selection – Rip Van Winkle (11/4, Ladbrokes)
