Qipco Champion Stakes (Group 1)

The curtain comes down on the Flat season with what could be the race of the year: the 15th running of the Champion Stakes at Ascot. Five individual Group 1 winners are set to line up, supported by an intriguing cast of improvers who could soon make their mark at the top level.

Since the switch to Ascot, older horses have dominated, winning 10 of the last 15 renewals compared to just four for the Classic generation. Three-year-olds Almeric and Pride Of Arras look nice prospects for next season, but Delacroix is the star of this year’s Classic crop. A dual Group 1 winner, he is arguably the best-bred horse on the card, by the great Dubawi, who was beaten in this race when it was run at Newmarket, and out of Tepin, the brilliant six-time Group 1 winner whose victories included the Breeders’ Cup Mile and the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Delacroix is already an enticing stallion prospect, and defeat here would not diminish his value. However, a third Group 1 win would elevate him into elite sire status. His old rival Ombudsman, also a dual Group 1 winner, has the advantage of proven course form, having landed the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. However, it’s a concern that only one horse in the last 25 years has won both the Prince of Wales’s and the Champion Stakes in the same season.

Both Delacroix and Ombudsman are exceptionally talented and have produced monster efforts this year. It will be fascinating to see whether their respective trainers can keep them at their peaks for this rematch. Their post-race interviews have been almost as entertaining as the races themselves, and this could well be the final outing for both before they retire to stud. It is one all, and there is more than just bragging rights at stake.

Every 1xBet player knows that past performance is not always a guide to future success, but it is worth noting that the Gosdens have only won this race twice, both with Cracksman, who went back-to-back in 2017 and 2018. The following year Magical gave Aidan O’Brien his sole win in the race. While the Champion Stakes is a stallion-making race, Coolmore typically focus their potential middle-distance sires on the Arc and the Breeders’ Cup, so this contest has often been an afterthought for them.

Given how little separates Delacroix and Ombudsman on form, I am prepared to take them both on, though I slightly prefer Delacroix, who comes here off a career-best effort, still gets a handy 4lb weight for age allowance from the older horses, and will be partnered by the great Christophe Soumillon, bidding for his third win in the race.

However, my main bet is Calandagan. The French have won this race five times in the last 20 years, including three since the move to Ascot, a course where Calandagan has won two of his three starts and arguably should have won this race last year when finishing fast for second.

Now ridden by Mickael Barzalona, often the whipping boy of the British and Irish media who do not have to deal with him weekly, he has been in tremendous form this season. Confidence will be sky-high for both jockey and trainer after winning the Arc with Daryz for Aga Khan Studs.

I have no doubts about Calandagan’s ability to drop back to ten furlongs. He was the only horse to truly test City Of Troy in last year’s Juddmonte International Stakes on good to firm ground, pulling clear of subsequent Arc winner Bluestocking. He was poorly positioned on the rail in this race last year and met plenty of traffic before flying home, only to lose out to a ten-furlong specialist given a peach of a ride by Jim Crowley. The winner, Anmaat, has franked that form with three runner-up finishes in Group 1 company, including to Ombudsman and Delacroix this year. The blistering turn of foot Calandagan has displayed to win his two Group 1s this season marks him out as a genuine world-class performer.

He arrives fresh, chasing a Group 1 hat-trick after victories over Aventure (last year’s Arc runner-up and subsequent Vermeille winner) and in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, extending his Ascot record to 1-2-1. The third that day, Rebel’s Romance, has since won twice more at Group/Grade 1 level in Germany and America and is second favourite to win a historic third Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Calandagan has started favourite in six of his last eight starts. The only times he did not were when sent off joint-third favourite behind City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International, and when third favourite for the King Edward VII Stakes, which he turned into a procession at last year’s Royal Meeting.

Only three pounds separate the top three in the betting, but as the fresher horse, with top-class ten-furlong form and an outstanding Ascot record, I can see Calandagan going off much shorter than the 3/1 currently on offer.

At a bigger price, Economics could outrun his odds. Joint third-highest rated with Timeform, and fourth on RPR’s, Top Speed and official ratings, he does come with risks. He appears to have bled in the past, and his lack of a run this campaign hints at training issues. But when last seen, he was 2/1 second favourite for this race, having beaten six-time Group 1 winner Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes.

He is unbeaten in three starts on good ground, has won both his starts off 90-day or more breaks, and trainer William Haggas has been in red-hot form with twelve winners in the last fortnight. Haggas trained the winner of this race in 2020, and he could have Economics ready to fire.

It is shaping up as a blockbuster Champion Stakes, a fitting finale to a thrilling Flat season. But we still have the Breeders Cup and the Melbourne Cup to come!

1–2–3 Prediction:

1st: Calandagan

2nd: Delacroix

3rd: Economics

3:25 Ascot - Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored by Qipco) (Group 1)

Field Of Gold looked a superstar after his St James’s Palace win at Royal Ascot, earning a 130 RPR, but he flopped badly in the Sussex Stakes next time and was found to be lame. If back to his best he’s the one to beat, but he has now lost more Group 1s than he’s won, and only Frankel has completed the St James’s Palace-QEII double in the same season, while in the last 20 years only Aidan O’Brien’s George Washington and Minding have won this race after finishing outside the top two on their previous start. At 6/4, returning from a layoff and on a recovery mission, he looks short enough.

There is a perception that fillies have a poor record in this race, often using Inspiral’s defeat at odds-on three years ago as proof. Yet recent history tells a different story. Minding ended a 29-year drought for fillies when winning in 2016, Persuasive followed the next year, and Tahiyra, I Can Fly, and Tamfana all hit the frame in the past seven runnings. Fallen Angel is a serious contender as she bids for a remarkable sixth Group 1 win, and a fourth in succession following victories in France, Ireland, and Newmarket.

Her Newmarket success earlier this month was electric on the clock, earning the top adjusted Top Speed figure in the field according to the Racing Post, 4lb clear of Field Of Gold. Timeform rate her on 133, level with Rosallion, and she remains unexposed in cheekpieces with form figures of 3-1-1-1 in headgear. Her defeat against the colts in the Lockinge can be forgiven as it came on her seasonal return, when trainer Karl Burke told me on ‘Racing Live’ on TalkSPORT2 that she would improve for the run. Burke is enjoying an outstanding season, regularly landing major Saturday prizes, and Fallen Angel can give him another big day.

Never So Brave has thrived for Andrew Balding and continues to improve. He is unbeaten in three starts this season, including two at Ascot, progressing from a handicap win off 105 at the Royal Meeting to a Group 2 over a mile and then a Group 1 over seven furlongs, where he finished ahead of Rosallion. He looks a big price for this, considering he’ll have the assistance of Champion Jockey  

Oisin Murphy. Docklands boasts excellent course-and-distance form and could run into a place, while Rosallion, although talented, has become difficult to back for win purposes. The Breeders’ Cup Mile may suit him better, as the tight turning track might bring out the best in him, that said, he’ll be finishing fast and late, and no one would begrudge him a Group 1 win.

1–2–3 Prediction:

1st Fallen Angel
2nd Never So Brave
3rd Rosallion

2:30 Ascot - Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1)

Kalpana, last year’s winner, was trained with the Arc in mind but fell short in both her prep at Kempton and the big race itself. She was trapped wide in Paris and can have that run upgraded. If fully recovered, she’s the one to beat back against her own sex, sitting 6lb clear on official ratings.

Aidan O’Brien’s Bedtime Story looks a major danger. She was a brilliant Royal Ascot juvenile and her French Oaks second and Vermeille third form stand up well. She was unlucky at Deauville when repeatedly denied a run and still finished upsides Cinderella’s Dream, a Group 1 winner this year. Forgive her Arc weekend flop when she was looked after once beaten.

Joseph O’Brien’s Wemightakedlongway is another who can hit the frame. Runner-up to Minne Hauk in the Irish Oaks and not far behind Kalpana in the Pretty Polly, she shaped well when fourth in the Prix de l’Opéra and will relish stepping back up to 12 furlongs.

1-2-3 Prediction:

1st: Bedtime Story
2nd: Wemightakedlongway
3rd: Kalpana

12:55 Ascot - Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 1)

Trawlerman has been superb all season and sets the standard, but he was no match for Kyprios in this last year and is short enough. At the prices, True Love makes appeal. The last Galileo trained by Aidan O’Brien, he ran a huge race to finish third behind stablemate and Goodwood Cup winner Scandinavia in the St Leger on just his fourth start. Getting 7lb from his elders and top-rated on adjusted speed figures, he still has plenty of upside again more exposed horses. If Trawlerman underperforms, True Love could capitalise.

Selection: True Love

2:05 Ascot - Sprint Stakes (Group 1)

The Group race sprints have been a lottery this season, and this looks no different. Kind Of Blue became the third member of his family to win this race last year, all trained by James Fanshawe. He returned to form when runner-up to Big Mojo in the Haydock Sprint Cup and looks ready to peak. However, James Doyle deserts him for Lazzat, who would be tough to beat if reproducing his Royal Ascot form but has flopped as favourite twice since.

Inisherin is the bet. He was level with Lazzat a furlong out at Haydock before fading when drawn on the wrong side of the track. A course-and-distance winner, this could be his turn to land the major sprint his connections think he’s capable of. But honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if any of them won. 

Selection: Inisherin (each-way 16/1+)

1:30 Ascot - Qipco British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes

A new addition to Champions Day, and Words Of Truth sets the bar for Charlie Appleby. He won the Group 2 Mill Reef stylishly, escapes a penalty, and already has an Ascot win over this trip. Proven on good ground, he’s the one to beat.

Mission Central could be the danger. A 8L Curragh maiden winner (second won a maiden on Sunday) before taking a Group 3, he found five furlongs too sharp last time when favourite. He carries his head high, but back to a stiff six furlongs and ridden positively, he can bounce back.

Selection: Words Of Truth (win)
Value: Mission Central (each-way at 16/1+)

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Presenter, Producer and Owner of The Final Furlong Podcast. Broadcaster with TalkSPORT. Broadcast Consultant.

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