Champions Day Selections

A brilliant afternoon's racing is in store for punters at Ascot this Sunday with a quartet of Group 1s set to take place. Some of the world's best horses will be strutting their stuff and you can check my analysis and selections for every race on the card below.

12.45 ASCOT LONG DISTANCE CUP (Group 2) 2M

The stayers kick things off on Champions day, and with the lowest priced horses chalked up at 6/1 it is plain to see it is a wide open contest. The one I like here is Litigant, who I tipped up here in the Ebor. He was due to run at Longchamp but was a late non runner due to quick ground. Trainer Joe Tuite has always regarded this horse as having the quality to compete at Group level, and this looks the perfect race for him.

Tuite has confirmed his stable star to be 'in great form' and he is unbeaten over this trip from two attempts. His stamina is assured, the ground will be perfect and he has been given plenty of time to get over his brilliant effort in the Ebor. He looks overpriced at 10/1 and can prove he has what it takes to be competitive at the top table.

STEVOS' SELECTION: LITIGANT 10/1

1.20 ASCOT CHAMPIONS SPRINT STAKES (GROUP 1) 6F

Another wide open contest with a case to be made for most of them. Regular readers of the blog will be familiar with Jack Dexter, who I have tipped up on the blog before. He is priced up at 33/1 for this heat and that looks way too big given his excellent record at this track.

Presumably it is because of his recent form figures of 7080, but all but one of those runs came on good to firm, and on the only occasion it was genuinely good (last time in the Ayr Gold Cup) he was beaten by less than 5 lengths off top weight, hinting at a return to form. 

He was sent off 11/2 for this race last year when it was a Group 2 and was a good 3rd behind Gordon Lord Byron on heavy ground. His Group 3 win came on good to soft so conditions will be ideal for him and 3 of his 8 wins have come in October/November. He rarely runs a poor race at Ascot, is a previous course and distance winner and has a nice draw in stall 13. He looks worthy of a little each way support in a wide open race. 

STEVOS' SELECTION: JACK DEXTER (E/W) 33/1

1.55 ASCOT CHAMPIONS FILLIES AND MARES STAKES (GROUP 1) 1M 4F

David Elsworth shunned the racing media after his star filly lowered the colours of the mighty Golden Horn at York and he has well and truly franked the form since with a brilliant win in the Arc. She followed that run with a poor effort behind Treve at Longchamp, but the ground was heavy that day and didn't suit the Elsworth filly who was stepping up to 12f for the first time.

She is again a silly looking price, though not near as big as the 50/1 she was when winning at York. Elsworth said he was insulted by that price, and he won't be impressed to see her as big as 16s for this contest. The better ground will suit and at that sort of price it is worth giving her another chance to prove her York win wasn't a fluke. 

STEVOS' SELECTION: ARABIAN QUEEN (E/W) 16/1

2.30 ASCOT QEII STAKES (GROUP 1) 8F

You can check my in depth analysis and selection for this fascinating contest HERE at Bettingtools. 

3.05 ASCOT CHAMPIONS MIDDLE DISTANCE STAKES (GROUP 1) 1M2F

Yet another cracking contest and the likely favourite Jack Hobbs will be difficult to beat. He is the clear form pick, and if he runs to form he should win. He is a short price though, and one at a bigger odds that could run well is Saeed Bin Suroor's Racing History. 

This son of Pivotal is unbeaten this season, and took the step up to Group 3 level in his stride last time at Windsor over this trip, beating Fascinating Rock with ease. That came on soft ground, but his previous two wins were on a decent surface so conditions should be fine once it doesn't dry out too much. 

He is bred to be a Group 1 horse, and his brother Farrh won this race back in 2013. Bin Suroor has compared him favourably to Farrh, and at odds of 14/1 he is a viable each way alternative if you are like me and backing odds on shots isn't your cup of tea. 

STEVOS' SELECTION: RACING HISTORY (E/W) 14/1

3.45 ASCOT BALMORAL HANDICAP (CLASS 2) 1M

A fiercely competitive handicap will be the final contest on Champions Day, and it is a real minefield for punters. Stakes should be kept to a minimum. The one I like at a price is Halation, who won on his last visit here under Jamie Spencer, who takes the ride again today. 

That win came off just a pound lower than he carries here, and his last two efforts can be excused on account of the trips (9.5f and 10f). All his wins have come over a mile and it is definitely his ideal trip. He will be held up for a late challenge, and will need luck in running given his racing style. However Spencer is a master of exaggerated waiting tactics and if anyone can plot a route through a packed field it is him. He looks worth an each way flutter at 22/1. 

STEVOS' SELECTION: HALATION (E/W) 22/1