QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot features a six-race card with four Group 1 races, a Group 2 and a typically competitive Balmoral Handicap. At the moment early on Friday morning there is heavy rain falling and the likelihood is that Ascot will have to use the inside track for the longer races after a very wet week. Let’s hope that we don’t see some of the principals pulling out like Tahirya and Mostahdaf because of ground, as they will add so much to the afternoon.
Trueshan, if winning his fourth consecutive Long Distance Cup, will set the day off in brilliant style and the remarkable Kinross Unibet 6/4 looks rock solid to secure his third win of the season with conditions completely in his favour. We can look forward to a flying dismount from Frankie Dettori!
A fantastic day of racing and I’ll be at Ascot on a day which I always enjoy.
Enjoy whether at Ascot or watching #athome on ITV Racing.
The Wine Tipster
1.15 Ascot – Qipco British Champions Day Long Distance Cup Group 2 (2m)
Trueshan can remarkably win his four consecutive Long Distance Cup in what looks a match with Kyprios, who has the best form in the race but even allowing for the fact he’d have needed the run, that was a disappointing comeback when a well-held second to Eldar Eldarov in the Irish St Leger and he needs to have come on plenty for that.
This is Trueshan’s manor, having won the race for the past three years and he simply has less question marks over him with this season’s wins at Doncaster and in the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp in which he has been able to dictate and draw clear. Both the principals will handle the ground, but Trueshan can once again come out on top.
2.25 Ascot – Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes Group 1 (1m 4f)
Bluestocking looks the each-way steal for the Filles & Mares. She’s barely run a bad one all season and deserves another win for her sheer consistency. Third in the Ribblesdale on ground plenty quick enough for her that day, she improved plenty for the return to softer conditions when a half-length second to Savethelastdance in the Irish Oaks on her next start. She ran right to form when a close fourth in the Irish Oaks and although beaten at Chester last time, winner Al Qareem is smart and won the Cumberland Lodge on his next start to give the form a good look.Cheekpieces are now used to sharpen her up and with conditions in her favour here, she can go well.
Unibet are paying MONEY BACK AS CASH if your pick finishes 2nd or 3rd in this race!
3.05 Ascot – Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Group 1 (1m)
Tahiyra (nap) may not take on Paddington because of the heavy ground, however, let’s hope she does because her form figures of 2111 stand out and it will be fascinating to see her take on the colts for the first time. Tahiyra ran a blinder on seasonal debut when not fully fit to finish a close second on soft going to Mawj in the 1,000 Guineas, with the winner franking that form in Keeneland last weekend on her first start since Newmarket. Tahiyra since the 1,000 Guineas has won the Irish 1,000 Guineas beating Meditate, at Royal Ascot with ground probably too quick and last month at the Irish Champion’s Festival at Leopardstown. Tahiyra won on soft as a two-year-old and will be dropped out to then come from off the pace to take her second victory at Ascot.
3.45 Ascot – Qipco Champion Stakes Group 1 (1m 2f)
King Of Steel has been marked up on a few occasions in my Unibet blog and with him having won on the soft he can take the Champion Stakes over what looks his ideal trip. He might well have gone closer in the Irish Champion Stakes on his most recent start had a move been made sooner.
We know he acts around Ascot after his remarkably easy King Edward VII win at Royal Ascot and we also know he’ll act well with plenty of cut in the ground, and with the likelihood of a good pace on thanks to Point Lonsdale, he can use his big stride to capture the prize in the final furlong.
Unibet are SUPER BOOSTING the price of every runner in this race!
4.25 Ascot – Balmoral Handicap (1m)
Migration was eighth in the Balmoral last year after never getting in the action from stall 23 and from stall 11 this year he has to be in the mix with the ground definitely in his favour. This seven-year-old, who is having only his twentieth career start, thrives in these big field handicaps, as he showed in the Lincoln at the start of the season at Doncaster in a race which has been a marker for those runners putting in good performances since. Migration isn’t as effective in smaller fields, as was evident on his most recent appearance in May when finishing last to Adayar at Newmarket at the Guineas Festival over a longer trip so you can draw a line through that performance. A long break is of no concern, with Migration showing in recent years that he performs most effectively when fresh and even with top weight he is going to be a big player here.
Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race!
4.25 Ascot – Balmoral Handicap (1m)
Awaal was second to Migration in the Lincoln and he like my other selection in the Balmoral is very effective in testing conditions, having won on the heavy last season. Although Awaal hasn’t won in 2023, he has been running well throughout the season, including when third in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot over this trip. Awaal has to be a strong each way player here.
Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race!
The Wine Tipster’s Fivefold
Sterling stuff! The champagne corks could well and truly be popping at Ascot if this one romps home!
Roll five selections from our red-hot tipster into an acca and that currently pays 4583/1 – £5 each way potentially returns £23,058.95 if they come in!
Click the image below to add directly to your betslip!
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