As we head to the next World Pool card at Ascot on Saturday, I've assessed the contenders and conditions and hinted at some of my World Pool betting angles for British Champions Day:
Ascot 1.15
Champions Day commences with the Long Distance Cup over the two-mile trip and TRUESHAN, seeking a four-time in this Group 1 contest, is likely to prove hard to beat. The seven-year-old’s powers looked to be seriously on the wane when he was only fourth in the Group 3 Sagario Stakes over track and trip in May, but wind surgery proved to be a turning point in his season, and he is unbeaten in two subsequent starts. Alan King’s charge surprised many observers by scoring comfortably on fast ground at Longchamp last time where he clearly appreciated being asked to make the running, tactics likely to be employed again. At the time of writing, the Aidan O’Brien-trained KYPRIOS was ahead of Trueshan in the betting but, while his Irish St Leger second to Eldar Eldarov was encouraging after a 344-day break, he still needs to prove he’s the force of old and is far from certain to appreciate a slog in the mud. SWEET WILLIAM chased home Trueshan in the Doncaster Cup on his latest outing and could be the one for the Tote Exacta.
Selection: Trueshan
Danger: Sweet William
Ascot 1.50
We switch from the round to the straight course for the 6f Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes and the first opportunity to check out any draw bias. This season, the GoingStick has often suggested that the ground closest to the near side rail (stands’ side) is the place to be at Ascot, but we didn’t see the jockeys consistently use this strip of turf until the two-day meeting on October 6/7 when the stalls were on the stands’ side. The scene was set in the 7f amateur riders’ handicap that opened the meeting, with stall 11 scoring from stalls 13 and 14. The ground, officially good, good to soft in places that day, will be much slower on Saturday and, with the stalls switched to the far side, it’s very difficult to call any draw bias at this stage.
Last year, KINROSS justified 3-1 favouritism from stall 17 of 18 and was chased home by runners drawn 14 and 13. They split into two distinct groups, and it was the smaller group (seven runners) down the centre who had the edge. Like the winner, the third-placed horse was also well fancied (4-1 shot Creative Force) but the presence of 150-1 chance Run To Freedom in second place contributed to a £2,700.10 Tote Trifecta dividend, comfortably out-scoring the trifecta (£1,610.52). Kinross is drawn slap bang in the middle in stall 8 of 15 and it will be fascinating to see where Frankie Dettori has him positioned in the early stages. Underfoot conditions were faster than ideal when he found one too good in the Prix de la Foret last time and he holds strong form claims.
There’s plenty of pace on the far side from ART POWER (stall 1) and SWINGALONG (stall 3) and that will certainly assist mudlark VADREAM. Charlie Fellowes’ mare did well to finish an 80-1 sixth of 18 on unsuitably fast ground in this race last year and her record in Britain on officially soft or heavy going stands at 37111 (3-5), improving to 111 (3-3) over 6f only.
MAGICAL SUNSET (stall 7) looks fascinating back at 6f on ground she relishes. She’s won two of her three starts at this trip, is two from four on officially soft or heavy going and is unbeaten (two from two) in the month of October. She’s left Richard Hannon since disappointing at Doncaster last month and makes her debut for Domini Ffrench Davis.
SANDRINE (stall 15) broke a 14-month losing run when landing the 7f Park Stakes on soft ground at Doncaster last month. She won the Albany Stakes over course and distance on her sole previous run on heavy going and has solid each-way claims if her high draw is no inconvenience.
Selection: Vadream
Dangers: Kinross, Magical Sunset, Sandrine
Ascot 2.25
World Pool race 3 is the 1m4f Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, which has gone to a fancied runner (5-1 or shorter) in seven of the past eight years.
FREE WIND, the 7-2 favourite at the time of writing, would prefer quicker going and could prove vulnerable.
JACKIE OH (4-1) will enjoy the deep ground and looks set to appreciate the step up to 1m4f for the first time.
TIME LOCK (11-2) arrives here on a hat-trick but was beaten by 14 lengths on heavy ground at Goodwood and is another who would have preferred a faster surface.
Ralph Beckett’s BLUESTOCKING (10-1) didn’t enjoy the sharp track at Chester when a neck second to Al Qareem last time and the winner has boosted the form. She perhaps hasn’t won as often as she should, but the first-time headgear could make the difference.
RUE BOISSONADE didn’t enjoy the fast ground when only fourth to Sea Silk Road in Group 1 company at Longchamp last time and this heavy ground winner can go well for France.
Selection: Rue Boissonade
Dangers: Bluestocking, Jackie Oh
Ascot 3.05
We’re back on the straight course for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and it will be great to see Aidan O’Brien’s PADDINGTON, the 11-8 market leader at the time of writing, bid to get back on track after his third to Mostahdaf in the Juddmonte International. The cut back to a mile looks a good idea and the ground is unlikely to trouble him.
TAHIYRA took her form figures to 112111 (5-6) when landing the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown, with the sole defat by just half a length in the 1000 Guineas. However, this will be her first run against male rivals.
NASHWA often fails to settle and was left with too much to do when a close-up third to Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes. She bolted up by five lengths in the Falmouth Stakes in her latest run over this trip and she should get a good tow into the race from Big Rock in the next-door stall. However, the ground looks to have gone against her.
FACTEUR CHEVAL wasn’t given the most inspired ride when runner-up to Paddington in the Sussex Stakes and her patient running style will be ideal for Ascot.
Selection: Facteur Cheval
Dangers: Paddington
Ascot 3.45
The 1m2f Qipco Champion Stakes sees French raider HORIZON DORE head the betting at around the 11-4 mark. The three-year-old gelding has landed his last four starts but May’s five-length second to Big Rock suggests he could be vulnerable on heavy going.
KING OF STEEL’s one-length fourth to Auguste Rodin at Leopardstown looks worthy of an upgrade as he was one of several British runners on the day who failed to adjust to the obvious pace bias, being left with too much to do by Kevin Stott. Frankie Dettori takes over in the saddle, though the recent rain is not ideal.
BAY BRIDGE has a great record in the spring/autumn and won this 12 months ago. He looks sure to go well if his Arc sixth hasn’t left its mark.
MOSTAHDAF has a fantastic record when fresh, recording form figures of 11111111 (8-8) on his seasonal debut or when rested for at least six weeks thereafter. The ground will be much slower than preferred but he’s still hard to dismiss.
VIA SISTINA will relish underfoot conditions and her record over 1m1f or further for her current trainer stands at 21112 (3-5), with the defeats by a neck and a short head.
ROYAL RHYME’s record when ‘soft’ appears in the going description reads 1111 (4-4) and Karl Burke’s colt could be a value outsider to play in the Tote exotics.
DUBAI HONOUR only went down by three-quarters of a length in second place when 6-1 for the 2021 renewal and is four or five times that price this time around. He’ll cope with the ground and could surprise, despite having been off the track since his last of four to Paddington in the Eclipse.
Selection: Bay Bridge
Dangers: Mostahdaf, Royal Rhyme, Dubai Honour, Via Sistina, King Of Steel
Ascot 4.25
Champions Day concludes with the 20-runner Balmoral Handicap over the straight mile. Shelir sprang an 80-1 upset last year to give David O’Meara his third win in just six years and the Yorkshire handler is well represented again with BENNETOT, BLUE FOR YOU, BOPEDRO, RHOSCOLYN and first reserve ESCOBAR. Blue For You (stall 20) is perhaps the most interesting, having fared third best of those drawn low when a 28-1 three-length seventh of 17 over 7f here last time.
SONNY LISTON, best of his group when runner-up to stablemate Jimi Hendrix over course and distance in the Royal Hunt Cup handles soft ground and holds obvious claims.
The step back up to 1m from 6.5f is a worry for hat-trick seeking BARADAR who didn’t quite see out this trip when a three-length third in the Lincoln.
AWAAL’s record in handicap company over a straight mile reads 1st, 2nd of 22 in the Lincoln and 3rd of 30 in the Royal Hunt Cup. He won on heavy ground last October and has a good each-way chance.
COEUR D’OR rarely runs a bad race when given a trip of 7f-1m1f, recording form figures of 481321311 (4-9). Dermot Weld’s veteran failed to see out 1m2f when a respectable eighth of 22 at the Curragh last time, though would have preferred fast going.
LATTAM hasn’t enjoyed much luck since doing well to overcome stall 1 and a steady early at Newcastle in June and the first-time cheekpieces could help. He’ll enjoy the ground and his run style is ideal for Ascot.
VETIVER’s record on tracks with stiff uphill finishes reads 111 (3-3) and the step back up in trip will suit after her Doncaster third to Matilda Picotte (winner again since).
The Kubler yard has already won a big handicap (The Cambridgeshire) this autumn and HELM ROCK looks interesting despite disappointing at Haydock last time. That track is rarely ideal for his come-from-behind style and he ran well (third of 15) over course and distance in the spring.
Selection: Vetiver
Dangers: Helm Rock, Lattam, Awaal
This Saturday we also have a Minimum Guaranteed 250k in the Placepot Pool for Ascot! Bet here
