Jack Hobbs primed for #ChampionsDay mission

Jack Hobbs, the Irish Derby winner, heads a 15-strong entry for the last of seven QIPCO British Champions Series races in the Middle Distance division, the £1,358,7509 QIPCO Champion Stakes over a mile and a quarter.

There has been one supplementary entry at a cost of £75,000, the Group 3 Winter Hill Stakes winner, Racing History, while Cirrus des Aigles is one of three potential French challengers and set to extend his record as the only horse to have competed at every running of QIPCO British Champions Day since its inauguration in 2011.

John Gosden, trainer of Jack Hobbs, said:

“We deliberately freshened him up after the Irish Derby. He’s a big rangy colt.

“The Classic horses have been on the go from February 1st and have done enough by the end of June. We were pleased with his comeback at Kempton, it was a nice race and nice day out for him. It’s a contentious race as ever and that kind of money attracts lots of key horses.

“I think the key is the draw. If you get drawn wide you hit that bend at Swinley Bottom very fast. We want to be drawn 1-8, let’s hope nobody feels hard done by.

“He won over the mile and quarter first time out when green before getting a bit lost in the Dante. He then ran over 1m 3f last time and he has a lot of tactical speed. His father was at his best at 1m and a quarter, so he’s happy with both.

“We’re lucky it’s drying, it’ll ride on the slow side of good but it shouldn’t be too much of an inconvenience for the horses.”
 
David Simcock, trainer of The Corsican, said:

“He’s come out of his race [at Newbury] very well and we’re happy with him. He did a good piece of work on Saturday and we’re all systems go.

“He’s at his best on fast ground and his Prince Of Wales’s run, when he got stopped in his run, would have been his best run so far. He’s improved since then, he’s running over his best trip and we’re looking forward to running him.

“We’re quietly confident in this horse, he’s getting quicker and improving all the time. Jack Hobbs is the stand out horse and a fair way above the majority of the field. And the draw is going to be massive – I’d like a 1-5 draw.”