Ascot 15 October 2016

Going: Good
 
 
Moderate showers

Forecast: Moderate showers
Temperature: 9.3° - 16.4°
Rainfall: 2.40mm
Wind: 9.0 mph SE

All Racecards within one PDF

Instructions

1

13:25 Ascot (Class 1) (3YO plus)

Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 2)

2m

Winner £198,485 - 10 ran

No.
(Draw)
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

ORDER OF ST GEORGE bounced back to form after his Irish St Leger flop when an excellent third behind his stablemate Found in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly just 13 days ago over an inadequate trip of 1m4f. The return to 2m and the fact he escapes a Group 1 penalty makes him look a very solid proposition to kick off British Champions Day. His main market rivals, Simple Verse and Forgotten Rules, both have plenty to prove. The former only just got up in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last month and may not be suited by a steadily run contest, while the latter's attitude looked questionable at the Curragh on his return where he travelled all mover his rivals before being outbattled by Twilight Payment. Quest For More caused a surprise in the Prix du Cadran when beating Vazirabad to gain a Group 1 success and he looks a threat along with Sheikhzayedroad, who beat Roger Charlton's charge in the Doncaster Cup and comes here a fresher horse. Of the rest, Litigant merits a mention on his first start since demolishing a field in the November Handicap at Doncaster last year and should give a decent account on his return.

2

14:00 Ascot (Class 1) (3YO plus)

Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1)

6f

Winner £340,260 - 13 ran

No.
(Draw)
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

A fascinating sprint in prospect and THE TIN MAN is taken to turn the tables on his Sprint Cup conqueror, Quiet Reflection, now reopposing that rival on better ground at a stiffer track. There are a string of subplots to consider; this is likely to be Mecca's Angel final start before she is retired to stud, though she didn't appear to be at her brilliant Nunthorpe best when beaten in the Prix de l'Abbaye last time and the step up to a stiff six furlongs may take her out of her comfort zone. Librisa Breeze overcame trouble in running to win the Challenge Cup and is unexposed over sprint distances, while it would come as no surprise to see Diamond Jubilee hero Twilight Son go close, given his affinity for the track, even though much of the ante post build up to this contest centred around the potential participation of his stablemate, the Breeders' Cup-bound Limato. Lastly, Shalaa merits plenty of respect, too. He had been absent since winning last year's Middle Park before striking in the Bengough Stakes on his reappearance and his master handler is likely to have done everything he can in his prep as he bids to avoid the dreaded 'bounce' factor.

3

14:35 Ascot (Class 1) (3YO plus)

Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1)

1m 4f

Winner £340,260 - 13 ran

No.
(Draw)
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

SEVENTH HEAVEN proved herself as a top-class filly in the Yorkshire Oaks in August and looks tough to beat despite the competitive nature of this event. She beat stablemate Found with relative ease when last seen on the Knavesmire and looks tough to pick any faults in. Zhukova has first-time cheekpieces applied and her victory over US Army Ranger last month rates strong form. Her handler has an excellent record at this venue and his runners are always respected here. Journey has looked like fulfilling her potential in recent weeks with two thumping wins and deserves to take her chance in this company once more, while Speedy Boarding deserves plenty of respect on her swansong after two mightily impressive French Group 1 triumphs in recent months.

4

15:10 Ascot (Class 1) (3YO plus)

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1) (Sponsored By Qipco) (Str)

1m (Str)

Winner £656,432 - 13 ran

No.
(Draw)
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

RIBCHESTER has continued to improve throughout the season for Richard Fahey having finished third in the 2000 Guineas behind Galileo Gold before improving to win the Jersey here over 7f and the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville in August. The son of Iffraaj comes here in the form of his life and with connections bullish of a big performance, he ticks plenty of the boxes with several of his main rivals having questions to answer. Galileo Gold and Minding become the first pair of Guineas winners from Newmarket to meet since Mark Of Esteem and Bosra Sham clashed in this very contest 20 years ago. However, both of them have had tough seasons and this could potentially prove to be one run too many for either of them. Preference of the pair would be Minding with it looking significant that connections are willing to have another crack at the colts after a decent effort in the Irish Champion Stakes behind Almanzor. The main threat to the selection could well be Awtaad, who bounced back from a disappointing effort in the Sussex Stakes with victory in the Boomerang Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown and will come here all guns blazing with this likely to be his final start before going off to stud. Lightning Spear represents the older horses but faces a stiff task despite a career best in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood back in August.

5

15:45 Ascot (Class 1) (3YO plus)

Qipco Champion Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Middle Distance)

1m 2f

Winner £737,230 - 10 ran

No.
(Draw)
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

Almanzor looks sure to be popular following his victory in what looked to be a vintage renewal of the Irish Champion Stakes last month and this progressive three-year-old will be very hard to beat if repeating that effort today. That said, he can be taken on with last year's winner of this race, FASCINATING ROCK, who looks to be underestimated by the market at prices of around 5/1. The five-year-old son of Fastnet Rock has taken on Found three times and he has come out on top twice, with the only reversal happening when he needed the run and Found was race fit. On a line through the daughter of Galileo, Almanzor has a bit to find with Fascinating Rock and so it is even harder to see why there should be such a large price discrepancy between the pair. The aforementioned Found has to be respected following her Arc win but we know she is far from unbeatable in Group 1 events and she may be booked for a place once again today.

6

16:25 Ascot (Class 2) (3YO plus)

Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored By Qipco) (Str)

1m (Str)

Winner £155,625 - 19 ran

No.
(Draw)
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

A competitive heat with no standout candidate but a chance can be given to YUFTEN, who arrives here on a workable mark given that he was second past the post in a Group 1 in 2014 and he has a victory over the high-class Sir Isaac Newton this year. On his debut for Roger Charlton last month he got going too late when a narrow second over 7f at Newmarket and he would have won that contest in a couple more strides. Firmament has proven himself more than capable of mixing it in these big handicaps this season and he was unfortunate to bump into Librisa Breeze (runs in the 2:00) here last time. Remarkable would be a danger to all if he sees out the trip today and was entitled to need the run last time as he was returning from a short break. Donncha often makes the frame in these type of events and he could pick up some place money, while Here Comes When and Zhui Feng are others who can make the frame.

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