Hollie Doyle

OMBUDSMAN TO AVENGE CHAMPION STAKES DEFEAT

Godolphin’s superstar OMBUDSMAN had excuses at York in August but can set the record straight in the Qatar Racing Champion Stakes (4.00) – the highlight of a stellar Champions' Day card at Ascot on Saturday – live on Sky Sports Racing.

Fresh from a short break, John and Thady Gosden’s five-year-old is at his best on this stiff track and can avenge his defeat by French raider Calandagan in last year’s renewal with conditions in his favour.

I’m a big Constitution River fan so would like to see him show he’s the proper deal. Even though he has a tendency to hang left, I think he’s a better colt on a right-handed track like this one but does have something to prove now.

TONY TO MAKE WINNING RETURN TO ASCOT

TEN BOB TONY surprised a few by winning the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot but has since proven it was no fluke with a string of placed efforts in top company.

A strongly run mile on this stiff track clearly brings the best out of Ed Walker’s Night Of Thunder gelding and he can build on his gallant second in the Prix du Moulin in a strong Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (3.20) at Ascot.

Talk Of New York is going the right way but I’m not sure he’ll find it as easy to dominate on this track as he did in the Joel Stakes at Newmarket. If he gets away on the front end, he will be difficult to peg back but I have my doubts that will happen.

REVITALISED CABALLO CAN BE CUP KING

CABALLO DE MAR has bounced back to form with a vengeance since the tongue tie and blinkers went on, winning the Doncaster Cup before claiming the scalp of Scandinavia in the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp two weeks ago.

George Scott’s gelding now looks set to complete a hat-trick in the Qatar Racing British Champions Long Distance Cup (1.30) at Ascot at the probable expense of John and Thady Gosden’s Gregory, who looked as good as ever in Listed company at Newmarket after a lay-off.

St Leger hero Highwayman steps up in trip and should relish every yard of it but I’m not sure how good that Doncaster form will prove to be so this Group 1 will demand much more of him. 

ALMERAQ READY TO COMPLETE GROUP 1 TREBLE

I can’t possibly oppose my husband Tom Marquand on William Haggas’s ALMERAQ in the Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint Stakes (2.05) at Ascot.

Shadwell’s four-year-old has already won the Group 1 Jubilee over this course and distance before dominating his rivals in the Sprint Cup at Haydock Park last month. His only blip came on unsuitably fast ground in the July Cup at Newmarket.

With conditions in his favour, Almeraq can account for more exposed rivals including stable companion Division, who doesn’t find winning easy but missed out by only a short neck in a Group 1 in France two starts ago.

KALPANA HARD TO OPPOSE IN FILLIES’ FEATURE

If the Qatar Racing British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (2.40) at Ascot doesn’t prove a race too many, KALPANA can round off a magnificent season for Andrew Balding and her owners Juddmonte.

She was brilliant in winning the Group 1 King George at this track in the summer and lost little in defeat in the Arc, even though she may not have been at her wonderful best.

A live alternative is William Haggas’s improving filly Lilt who gave Tom (Marquand) a fine ride to be second to Oaks winner Thundering On in the Group 2 Blandford Stakes last time. She’s the unexposed filly in the line-up and should give a good account.

BLUE IS THE COLOUR IN ASCOT OPENER

July Stakes winner INNER CITY BLUES can prove too good for his rivals in the £250,000 Qatar Racing British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes (12.55) at Ascot.

Charlie Appleby’s son of Blue Point didn’t run up to expectations in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes last month but can prove a different proposition in this field. 

Eve Johnson Houghton’s Night In Vegas should acquit himself well in pursuit of a fourth big pay day after completing a hat-trick of sales race victories while Gimcrack winner Arapaho Gold is also entitled to be in the mix after running well under a penalty in the Mill Reef. 

SCOVILLE COMING TO THE BOIL AT RIGHT TIME

Now William Haggas has got the enigmatic SCOVILLE back to winning form, I expect him to take all the beating in the closing Balmoral Handicap (4.35) at Ascot.

He looked on great terms with himself in a hot handicap at Doncaster last time and strikes me as a well handicapped horse, even off this 4lb higher mark.

At a huge price, Richard Hannon’s 114-rated Persica must be respected down in grade with Toby Moore taking off a useful 7lb while Stephen Thorne’s Irish challenger Excellent Believe is another who can go well at a big odds.

HOPING TO RETURN TO TRACK NEXT MONTH

Thursday was a significant breakthrough day in my recovery from a broken left leg when I rode out for the first time at my boss Archie Watson’s Lambourn yard.

It felt great to be back on the Kingsdown gallops after being out of action since 22nd May when I was badly injured in a fall at Bath. It has been a long road back but I’m now hoping to start race riding again at the beginning of November.

In the meantime, I’ll continue to ride out for Archie whilst maintaining my physio and fitness sessions in the gym at Oaksey House in Lambourn. 

Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.