October 21 / 15.45 Ascot

15.45

Soft

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

  • Prize money: £737230
  • 1m 1f 212y
  • Class 1
  • 8 runners
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Qipco Champion Stakes (British Champions Middle Distance) (Group 1)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.55
  • Place: £1.65

Form: 7-2134 C

Last run: 42 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Won on soft on debut; clear second in the Derby on reappearance then went one better in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot; subsequently third in the King George here (good to soft) and a close fourth when dropped back to 1m2f in the Irish Champion Stakes; that very solid campaign makes him a big player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

(1)

21st Oct 2023

Soft

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

King Of Steel

9st 3lb

J: Frankie Dettori

T: Roger Varian

raced in last, pushed along over 4f out, headway on outer from 2f out, prominent when ridden and hung right 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, led towards finish

4/1

4th

8

(5)

9th Sep 2023

Good

1m 2f 0y

15:20 Leopardstown

King Of Steel

9st 3lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Roger Varian

held up in midfield, headway 3f out, ridden and went fourth inside final furlong, kept on well towards finish, not reach leaders

9/4

3rd

11

(3)

29th Jul 2023

Soft

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:40 Ascot

King Of Steel

8st 12lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Roger Varian

Strapping colt who nearly won the Derby on stable/seasonal debut, leading from over 2f out until collared by Auguste Rodin near the finish (pair clear); went one better in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot where he comfortably justified favouritism while confirming he's very smart and suited by this C&D; both starts this season on good to firm but 2yo debut success came on soft; still has very low mileage, having raced just four times, and commands the utmost respect with further progress on the cards.

4/1

8/1

  • Place: £2.25

Form: 1-1132 D BF

Last run: 62 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Acts on soft ground; below par over 1m in the Falmouth; has form figures of 21112 in her 1m1f-10.5f races for current stable, including Pretty Polly win at the Curragh; went very close in Deauville Group 1 when last seen; may rate higher still and holds fair claims kept to this sort of trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

(9)

21st Oct 2023

Soft

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

Via Sistina

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: George Boughey

awkward start, in rear, good headway on outer from 3f out, pressed leaders under 2f out, led when jockey dropped whip over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, headed towards finish

8/1

3rd

6

(8)

14th Jul 2023

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket (July)

Via Sistina

9st 9lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: George Boughey

Lightly raced 5yo who was an easy Group 2 winner on the Rowley Mile in May (1m1f, soft) and followed up in the Group 1 Pretty Polly at the Curragh (1m2f, good) a fortnight ago, when hanging right and hampering rivals; there can be optimism she will be fully effective at 1m and she's the one to beat on form; has run just once on fast ground, when showing promise on debut.

13/8

1st

7

(3)

1st Jul 2023

Good

1m 2f 0y

15:25 Curragh

Via Sistina

9st 10lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: George Boughey

Lightly raced; showed improved form in Group 3 races last autumn for new yard, finishing a close second at Newmarket then going one better at Toulouse; improvement strongly sustained with returning victory in 1m1f Group 2 event at Newmarket in early-May; up 8lb to 115 for that, making her the highest-rated runner in the field.

15/8

3rd
7 (2)

9/2

  • Place: £1.55

Form: 521111 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Acts on heavy ground; improving French 3yo gelding who comfortably justified favouritism in the Prix Dollar at Longchamp (1m2f Group 2) three weeks ago, completing a four-timer and taking overall record to 6-8; brings a very attractive profile to this first Group 1 attempt; big player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: -11386 C

Last run: 42 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Sole runner for Ballydoyle but has weak claims, being towards the bottom of this pack on ratings; only sixth of eight in the Irish Champion Stakes most recently and is still seeking first win at the top level; won on heavy and soft this spring but ideally needs a drop back to Group 2 or lower.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(6)

13th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:35 Doncaster

Point Lonsdale

9st 7lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Ran respectably sole start on good to firm; 0-8 in Group 1 races but has won five lesser Group contests and he's a leading contender on form; impressive over the extended 1m5f at Chester in May, galloping on relentlessly; first venture beyond that when disappointing favourite at York (2m) three weeks ago but he's nevertheless back for more in the Cup races and over an even longer trip this time; interesting to see whether his backers return.

9/2

5th

4

(5)

23rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

Point Lonsdale

9st 5lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Ran respectably sole start on good to firm; 0-8 in Group 1 races but has won five lesser Group contests and he's a leading contender on form; brother to the very smart Broome, who won at up to 2m, but he's not himself been beyond the extended 1m5f of his impressive Chester win in May; galloped on relentlessly that day, so has to be of major interest.

2/1

1st

6

(4)

9th May 2024

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:40 Chester

Point Lonsdale

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

prominent, went second over 2f out

2/1

14/1

Form: 431011 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Progressive 3yo who justified favouritism in Ayr Listed event (1m2f, good to soft) four weeks ago, following up his Glorious Goodwood handicap win and taking record on going softer than good to 4-4 (3-3 on soft); now upped a lot further in class but would be interesting granted slow ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(8)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:35 Chester

Royal Rhyme

9st 3lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Did well early in his carerer including when beating three rivals in the 2024 Brigadier Gerard (1m2f, soft); 0-8 since, albeit twice placed at the highest level; pulled too hard when beaten over 6l into sixth of 12 behind Starford on his return in a Group 3 at the Curragh (1m2f, soft) last month, but that should have taken the freshness out of him; could probably do with the ground easing, though.

7/1

Form: 6-1134 D

Last run: 105 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Better than ever in international Group 1 races in March/April, including two wins in Australia (good/soft); second in this contest in 2021 but only sixth last year and below par in the Eclipse when last seen; record at Group level on home soil is 0-6.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(6)

16th Nov 2024

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 1

15:15 Newcastle (AW)

Dubai Honour

9st 11lb

J: Adam Farragher

T: William Haggas

Started his campaign with a 1m2f Listed success on Kempton's Polytrack and struck for the third time at Group 1 level in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (1m4f) in June; another good effort in top company on the continent when second at Baden-Baden (1m4f) in September; Group 1 penalty to shoulder but a potential cut above.

2/1

2nd

1

(6)

16th Nov 2024

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 1

15:15 Newcastle (AW)

Dubai Honour

9st 11lb

J: Adam Farragher

T: William Haggas

in touch with leaders

2/1

7th

2

(8)

27th Jul 2024

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:40 Ascot

Dubai Honour

9st 9lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Globetrotting middle-distance performer who is a Group 1 winner in Australia and France, most recently in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (good to soft) last month; likely set for a supporting role in this field, being 0-5 (form figures 24646) at the top level on British soil.

20/1

Form: 3-4421 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Took advantage of a drop back to Listed grade at Goodwood (soft) last month, not needing to be at his best; came up short behind Mostahdaf at Royal Ascot on last Group 1 attempt but is better than that, having finished a close third in this race last year; tongue-tie and blinkers are now applied.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(1)

24th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

18:45 Windsor

My Prospero

9st 7lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

led but pestered, pushed along over 3f out, switched to far side over 2f out, headed over 1f out, rallied and pressed leader inside final furlong, led towards finish, just did enough

9/4

3rd

1

(1)

2nd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 1f 11y

Class 2

16:10 Goodwood

My Prospero

9st 12lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Acts on soft and good to firm; smart performer who has bits of Group 1 form; didn't need to reproduce it when justifying favouritism in Listed event here (1m2f) last September, then came up well short in the Champion Stakes (wore tongue-tie/blinkers); peak figures give him a leading chance on seasonal debut.

15/8

7th

4

(4)

21st Oct 2023

Soft

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

My Prospero

9st 7lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

took keen hold, soon led, headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: -32516 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Horse

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Has form on soft; stepped up to 1m4f the last twice, winning the September Stakes then respectable sixth (faded late) in the Arc; disappointing behind Mostahdaf at Royal Ascot on last 1m2f attempt but won this race 12 months ago (good to soft) and warrants respect on that basis.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

(8)

21st Oct 2023

Soft

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

Bay Bridge

9st 7lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Sir Michael Stoute

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, weakened from 2f out, dropped to last over 1f out

5/1

1st

2

(2)

9th Sep 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 1

13:35 Kempton (AW)

Bay Bridge

9st 7lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Sir Michael Stoute

Last six starts have been at Group 1 level, including a win in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot (1m2f, good to soft) last October; solid efforts in his first two outings after returning in the spring, but off 80 days since finishing fifth of six in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot (1m2f, good); favoured by the race conditions and has winning form on AW (Tapeta), but has never attempted this far before.

Evs

5th

2

(5)

21st Jun 2023

Good

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Bay Bridge

9st 2lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Sir Michael Stoute

1l second in this race last year (good to firm; 10-11 favourite) when caught out by a fine front-running ride on the winner; beat Adayar and My Prospero to win the Champion Stakes over C&D (good to soft) last October and he had to wait for a clear run when close second to Luxembourg in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh (10.5f, good) last month; key player.

3/1

Non-runners

Mostahdaf

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £22.70
Straight Forecast £19.26
Tricast £64.96
Trifecta £110.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

King Of Steel

TOPSPEED:

Bay Bridge

RP RATINGS:

Mostahdaf

Daily Mail:

Via Sistina

POSTDATA:

King Of Steel

The Times:

King Of Steel

The Guardian:

King Of Steel

D Express:

King Of Steel

The Star:

King Of Steel

Telegraph:

Mostahdaf

NEWMARKET:

Bay Bridge

Daily Mirror:

Bay Bridge

The Sun:

Bay Bridge

Daily Record:

Bay Bridge