Shorter trip considered as Alcohol Free heads 38 in QIPCO British Champions Sprint entries

Last week’s impressive Qatar Sussex Stakes winner Alcohol Free could add a fresh dimension to the QIPCO British Champions Sprint, in which a total of 38 entries also includes last year’s winner Glen Shiel, the Darley July Cup principals Starman and Dragon Symbol, last week’s Unibet Lennox Stakes first two of Kinross and Creative Force, the vastly improved Wokingham winner Rohaan, and the back-to-form 2020 two-year-old Group 1 winner Thunder Moon.

The possibility of Alcohol Free dropping back to six furlongs was not generally anticipated, but her trainer Andrew Balding has QIPCO British Champions Day at the top of his agenda for his filly, who also won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, and he is keen to keep her options open.

Balding, who heads the Flat Trainers’ Championship table following an excellent Qatar Goodwood Festival and won the Sprint two years ago with Donjuan Triumphant, said: “QIPCO British Champions Day is very much on the agenda for Alcohol Free, and we know the ground won’t be a problem to her there. 

“I’m keeping all the options open and so I’ve entered her in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint as well as the QEII, on the basis that the mile might take a bit of getting at that time of year. She won the Cheveley Park Stakes last year and I think she’d travel well enough for six still. She’s got that class too.

“Where she goes in the meantime is very much up in the air. She came back from Goodwood with a couple of scratches as it was a rough race, but it’s nothing to worry about. She’s very good.”

Champion jockey Oisin Murphy, the filly’s regular partner, agreed and said: “It makes sense to have that option open for Alcohol Free and if she did end up there, rather than in the QEII, she ought to take a bit of beating.” 

Glen Shiel provided both jockey Hollie Doyle and trainer Archie Watson with their career-first Group 1 wins in last year’s race when beating Brando by a nose in the finish of the day. Watson is aiming the seven-year-old at a repeat and has a powerful second string in Dragon Symbol, who lost Royal Ascot’s Group 1 Commonwealth Cup in the stewards’ room and has since been second in both the Darley July Cup and in last week’s King George Qatar Stakes.   

Watson said: “It was amazing when Glen Shiel won last year. He came to me as a ten-furlong horse with Andre Fabre and he’s just improved and improved. He backed that Champions Sprint win with another huge run when second to Dream Of Dreams in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot, where Dragon Symbol also ran a huge race to pass the post first in the Commonwealth Cup. 

“We came away from Royal Ascot with probably two of the best sprinters in Europe, but without a win, but I was very proud of them and I thought they both backed it up in the July Cup, where ‘Dragon’ was second and ‘Glen’ ran a very big race too in sixth on very quick ground. 

“Glen Shiel will certainly finish his year off back at Ascot in the Champions Sprint, and he won’t mind what the ground is. Dragon Symbol may well finish his season back up at six there too, and I don’t think he’ll mind what the ground is either.”

July Cup winner Starman suffered the only defeat of his career in last year’s QIPCO British Champions Sprint and is entered once again, although trainer Ed Walker alluded that it is a possibility at this stage. He could have another candidate in Came From The Dark.

“Starman is running on Sunday in the Prix Maurice de Gheest and he is in great shape,” said Walker. “He came out of Newmarket well, looks fantastic and I couldn’t be happier with him. He has to be entered but I think history will dictate that he is a possibility.”

He added: “I think the race would be a very realistic option for Came From The Dark. His best form is at five furlongs, but he is a gelding, it’s the end of the season, so why not?

“He has all sorts of options. We have had a few niggles with him which meant he missed Royal Ascot but he did well to win at Sandown. He’s a horse who is progressing well and is very versatile with regards to ground. We will train him for the Nunthorpe and go from there.”

The full list of entries for the QIPCO British Champions Sprint can be seen below. You can still secure your early bird tickets to QIPCO British Champions Day and save up to £20. Secure your tickets before Friday 6 August to get the best possible prices.

Full Entries:

Art Power (IRE), Azano (GB), Brando (GB), Came From The Dark (IRE), Fresh (GB), Garrus (IRE), Glen Shiel (GB), Gustavus Weston (IRE), Happy Power (IRE), Kinross (GB), Nahaarr (IRE), Punchbowl Flyer (IRE), Royal Crusade (GB), Starman (GB), Summerghand (IRE), Creative, Force (IRE), Diligent Harry (GB), Dragon Symbol (GB), Minzaal (IRE), Nando Parrado (GB), Power Under Me (IRE), Rohaan (IRE), Thunder Moon (IRE), Glass Slippers (GB), Highfield Princess (FR), Keep Busy (IRE), Last Empire (GB), Romantic Proposal (IRE), Alcohol Free (IRE),, Dandalla (IRE), Happy Romance (IRE), Light Refrain (GB), Lullaby Moon (GB), Measure of Magic (IRE), Twilight Spinner (GB), Ventura Diamond (IRE), Wren’s Breath (IRE)