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12 Sep 2018

Champions Day 2018 – Ante Post Angle

Robert Winston and Librisa Breeze will attempt to make history by becoming the first horse to land back-to-back renewals of the same race on Champions Day

With the £4.35 million card gearing up to be as competitive as ever, it’s no surprise to see that respected tipsters and professional punters have already begun to place their money ahead of QIPCO British Champions Day.

The Racing Post columnist and ante post betting expert Tom Segal aka ‘Pricewise’ pinned his colours to three horses yesterday morning. His selections Musis Amica (now a NR), Cracksman and Addeyb were all subsequently subject to positive support in the betting market.

That said finding a winner can prove tricky enough on the day itself, so it’s best to tread carefully when there is still so much water to pass under the bridge ahead of the main event. Below we list off our idea of three nice bigger priced selections for the Ultimate raceday

QIPCO British Champions Sprint – Librisa Breeze  10/1

The selection of last year’s winner to land back-to-back runnings of the QIPCO British Champions Sprint may take a slight leap of faith based on his racecourse form in 2018, but we think the six-year-old still makes a huge amount of appeal at double figure odds.

For starters, a startling fact about Dean Ivory’s inmate is that he’s run nine times on soft ground in his career and has never been out of the first two. With it being a distinct possibility that we encounter autumnal conditions at the Berkshire venue on Saturday October 20th, you can start to see the logic behind the grey hitting the frame.

Moreover, the previous five races within the Sprint Division this year have all been won by different horses; showing off just how open the category is. With the likes of Harry Angel, Blue Point and Battaash all showing the inability to stick two runs together this season, picking a new face to win the final Sprint of the year would be the logical step in finding the likely winner.

QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares – Pilaster 14/1

Unbeaten in all three starts this season, including a victory in the Group 2 Lillie Langtree Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, Roger Varian’s daughter of Nathaniel is still available at double figure prices and remains unexposed compared to many of her more highly-tried rivals.

Prior to that she’s set to test herself in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster on Thursday, for which she is presently favourite. Should she confirm market favouritism and win there then you can certainly expect her price to shorten.

What’s more, unlike her more highly rated rivals for the Ascot Group 1 – Enable, Sea Of Class and Lah Ti Dar – the Fillies and Mares’ race is Pilaster’s only major engagement at the end of the season; so you can bet with much more confident that she’ll line up at Ascot.

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) – Expert Eye 8/1

A horse that many still feel is yet to show his true potential, Expert Eye rates as good each way value in the £1.1 million content over the straight mile.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained three-year-old has been on something of a recovery mission since a disappointing run at the start of the Series in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas. However his recent form, including a gallant second in the Qatar Sussex Stakes and a fast finishing third in the Prix Du Moulin puts him right up there on form with the market leaders, Alpha Centauri aside.

The son of Dansili also showed a real liking for the Ascot straight when running out a decisive winner five length winner of the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot; which is another big positive.

With there being question marks around current favourite Alpha Centauri’s participation in the race, an each way bet on