Early Market Movers for British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday

QIPCO British Champions Day 2020 is the ultimate way to round off what has been a brilliant Flat season given the circumstances. The star-studded finale of the British Flat racing season concludes at Ascot racecourse on Saturday. Adrian Wall has sifted through the markets to find out where the early money has been going.

1.20 – Long Distance Cup

Stradivarius bids to get back on track after two tame efforts in France, the latest a 7th place finish in the Arc. He is not a mile and a half horse though and will take some stopping back up to his favoured two miles. Kew Gardens lowered his colours in this race last year and Aidan O’Brien’s DAWN PATROL (25/1 into 10/1) has been well supported this week. Third in the Irish Derby and 6th in the St Leger, he won a Group 3 at the Curragh when last seen and he could continue improving.

1.55 – Champion Sprint Stakes

The impressive and progressive Dream Of Dreams is all the rage for this after his exertions last time out. He won the Haydock Sprint Cup in great style and deserves the favourites tag. The horse coming for lots of support in the market is CAPE BYRON (22/1 into 12/1), trained by Roger Varian. This horse hasn’t been seen since finishing 12th in this race last year. However, he is a four-time winner around Ascot, landing two massive handicaps and a Group 3 here. It will be a remarkable training feat if he did win but nobody is better for the job than Roger.

3.40 – Champion Stakes

Aidan O’Brien’s star filly Magical is the current favourite and deservedly so. She saw off the highest rated horse on the planet, Ghaiyyath, in the Irish equivalent. All the market support this week has come for John Gosden’s LORD NORTH (10/1 into 6/1). He arrives here much fresher than most, last seen finishing 3rd behind Ghaiyyath and Magical in the Juddmonte. He has form figures of 2nd, 2nd, 1st around Ascot. That win came here in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes in June where he pulverised his rivals. There is a lot to like about this horse as he tries to follow in the footsteps of Cracksman.