Champions Day Tips
| Race | Betting Tip |
| 12.55 | SWEET WILLIAM (WITHOUT FAV) |
| 1.30 | WATCHA SNOOP (50/1 bet365) EW |
| 2.05 | INISHERIN (14/1 Boylesports) EW |
| 2.45 | WAARDAH (6/1 BetVictor) EW |
| 3.25 | NEVER SO BRAVE (8/1 William Hill) EW |
| 4.05 | FOX LEGACY (25/1 bet365) EW |
| 4.40 | CROWN OF OAKS (6/1 BetVictor) NAP |
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12:55 Ascot
The opener on Champions Day is the Long Distance Cup. A Group 1 for the stayers over 2m.
It’s hard to get away from Trawlerman, but I’d rather remove him and back SWEET WILLIAM (WITHOUT FAV) in this. A really solid, reliable stayer who managed to get his head back in front last time out when winning the Doncaster Cup comfortably. That will have done his confidence the world of good. He was second in this race last year, and this 2m trip is ideal for him. The Gold Cup trip stretches him. His danger in this market is Stay True, but he has to take a significant step forward to trouble the Gosden pair, and he has stamina to prove. Take the tried and trusted with Sweet William.
1:30 Ascot
Next up, we have a new addition to the Champions Day card, a conditions race for the 2-year-olds over 6f.
Hard to get away from the favourite Words Of Truth, who was an impressive winner of the Mill Reef last time out. However, he’s short enough at odds on, given that the Appleby yard tends to do best away from Ascot.
The one at a huge price is WATCHA SNOOP (50/1) EW. He showed plenty of promise on debut, staying on to finish second behind Words Of Truth at Newmarket. He then came here for a novice stakes race and won well over this course and distance. Ignore his Mill Reef run as he lost his chance before the stalls had even opened. He was very keen on the way to the race, on edge and again during the race. I’m hopeful he’ll be better now in that regard, as he has since been gelded. If that does have the positive effect, I can see him hitting the frame.
2:05 Ascot
The 2:05 is the Group 1 Champion Sprint Stakes over the stiff 6 furlongs.
At the prices, it is INISHERIN (14/1) EW for me here, the Kevin Ryan sprinter was an impressive winner of the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup here at the Royal Meeting back in 2024. That was over this course and distance so it obviously suits him well. He returned to action this year with a fine victory at Group 2 level at York. Of course, he’s been underwhelming in three starts since, but his run last time at Haydock was certainly a step back in the right direction. Conditions will suit, and if he’s on a going day, he’s definitely capable of going close against these lot.
2:45 Ascot
It’s the turn of the fillies and mares at 2:45 with the Group 1 Fillies & Mares Stakes over 1m4f.
I like WAARDAH (6/1) EW in this for the younger generation. 3-year-olds have a fine record in this race, and this Owen Burrows filly has been highly progressive this season. Burrows is very good at bringing his horses along steadily, and he appears to be doing a good job at it again with Waardah. She was a well-backed winner of a competitive listed event at Glorious Goodwood before winning the Group 2 Lillie Langtry last time out again at Goodwood. The drop in trip isn’t a concern, as she had a decent turn of foot. I get the impression that the better the race, the better her performance will be. I think she can take another step forward and go close at Group 1 level here.
3:25 Ascot
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes comes up next, a Group 1 contest for the milers.
The one for me is NEVER SO BRAVE (8/1) EW. He has excelled since joining the Andrew Balding yard this season. After a runner-up effort on stable debut, he’s gone on to win his next three starts. They include a Group 2 here at Ascot, and last time out was a Group 1 up at York. That was a career best, and although this is a deeper contest, he comes into this in career best form with no question marks to answer. The same can’t be said for some of his key rivals, who have to bounce back or prove they can get their head back in front.
4:05 Ascot
The Group 1 Champion Stakes over 1m2f comes up at 4:05.
A competitive affair, a great renewal. The front three bring a strong level of form but are fairly priced. I’ll take my chance with FOX LEGACY (25/1) EW, who could be the forgotten horse in here. Another who has relished joining the Andrew Balding yard and has also won three of his four starts this season. It’s hard not to have been impressed with the last two victories, the first was the competitive John Smiths Cup at York before then bolting up at Goodwood last time by over 5 lengths. This is a massive step up, but he’s priced accordingly. He’s clearly thriving at present, and I see him as the most likely runner to hit the frame outside the top three. There is also the chance the favourites take each other on early in the straight and something else picks them all off.
4:40 Ascot
We end proceedings with the competitive Balmoral Handicap over the straight mile.
It is CROWN OF OAKS (6/1) NAP for the Tom Marquand and Williams Haggas duo for me here. A really progressive three-year-old who looks well handicapped off a current mark of 99. A winner of his first two handicaps, he was last seen travelling over to Ireland for a competitive handicap there. Well backed on the day, he finished third, which was a decent effort. I do think he’s better than that, though, and the combination of the travel and the quick turnaround may have taken the edge off him. Freshened up since, he can show he’s better than a mark of 99 here.
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