Champions Day shaping up into another bonanza

Caravaggio got back to winning ways at the Curragh. Picture: Racingfotos.com

A string of horses who either won or ran well in the big races run all over Europe this weekend look like heading to QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot. There were clues on offer for all five Series races being run on October 21.

Tickets are selling fast to racing’s big finale, with King Edward VII Enclosure already sold out, so be sure to secure your spot now to Ascot next month.

QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup
Order Of St George was a superb nine-length winner of the Irish St Leger at the Curragh on Sunday and is now no bigger than 7-4 to go three places better in the Long Distance Cup than 12 months ago. He also has other options, with the Arc and Melbourne Cup mentioned for the 2016 Gold Cup winner. Last year he finished third in the Arc en route to running in the Long Distance Cup.

QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes
The first three home in the 32Red Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday – Harry Angel, Tasleet and The Tin Man – are set to meet again. Harry Angel was a brilliant four-length winner and is a best-priced 6-4 but those thinking he was a banker for the race on Saturday night might have had second thoughts after Caravaggio, who beat him in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, bounced back to form with a win in Group Two company over five furlongs at the Curragh on Sunday. The latter is 5-1 for the third clash between the pair, which will be be worth going a long way to see. Aidan O’Brien, the trainer of Caravaggio, has said Champions Day is now at the top of the grey colt’s agenda.

QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes
Bateel and Journey dominated the finish of the Prix Vermeille at Chantilly on Sunday and could meet again on October 21. The runner-up, fluent winner of the Fillies & Mares Stakes last year, was showing a welcome return to form after a couple of subdued efforts. Frankie Dettori, her jockey, said: “She has run very well and she was beaten by a filly who handled the [soft] ground better than her. She will now be aimed at the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot.” Journey is a best-priced 7-1, with Bateel a point bigger at 8-1 – perhaps because her connections have yet to commit to Ascot.

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
Ribchester, winner of the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes and Queen Anne this year, cemented his position as ante-post favourite with victory under James Doyle in the Prix du Moulin at Chantilly on Sunday. Aidan O’Brien’s plans for the race remain unclear, although with Churchill bound for the QIPCO Champion Stakes it could be the target for the prolific Winter, quoted at 8-1. She suffered a narrow defeat in the Matron Stakes to stablemate Hydrangea at Leopardstown on Saturday after missing some work in the build-up.

QIPCO Champion Stakes
Decorated Knight and Poet’s Word fought out the finish of the QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday and could meet again. Roger Charlton says the former will have one final run in either in the Champion Stakes or Breeders’ Cup Mile before being retired to stud, but Poet’s Word will head for Ascot and stay in training next year. “He definitely goes for the Champion Stakes next,” Bruce Raymond, racing manager for owner Saeed Suhail, said: “The owner was quite insistent that is where he wanted the horse to run.” The race also remains a possibility for Cracksman, cut to 6-1 after his easy win in the Prix Niel at Chantilly on Sunday, while Aidan O’Brien remains keen on running Churchill despite his reverse at the Curragh on Saturday.

Tickets are selling fast to racing’s big finale, with King Edward VII Enclosure already sold out, so be sure to secure your spot now to Ascot next month.