ASCOT
1:30 Champions 2-y-o Conditions Stakes
Slay Queen (Joe Leavy)
She paid the price for being too keen in a very competitive race at Doncaster last time, having won a small field Nursery prior to that. We’ll try and hold on to her for a bit longer here, because she’s quite an exuberant filly, but this is a hot race, and if she can finish in the money, I’ll be delighted.
3:25 G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
Rosallion (Sean Levey)
I’ve been very pleased with him all summer, really; he’s been very solid and had a nice blow this morning (Thursday) when Sean came in to ride him.
He’s moving great and goes there with an exceptional chance.
He’s drawn in 15 of 16, with Field Of Gold next to him, and the ground on the straight mile is to his liking, so I’m hoping for a very, very big run.
If he did happen to win, I don’t think anyone could say he was winning out of turn.
4:05 G1 Qipco Champion Stakes
No runner for us unfortunately, but it looks to be a fascinating race, and it’s great that, like the QEII, all the big guns have turned up. Obviously Delacroix and Ombudsman are one a-piece and could set the standard, while Economics is an intriguing runner for William Haggas, but I’ve been very impressed with the French horse, Calandagan, who has done nothing wrong all season and looked very good in the King George. I don’t think the drop back in trip will be a problem because they are going to make it a true test, and he gets the nod for me!
4:40 Balmoral Handicap
Witch Hunter (Joe Leavy)
As everybody knows, he has a great record at the track, and it was great to see him get his head back in front at Newcastle last time. He’s never won at a mile but was third in this race last year off a much higher mark, and the ground was soft that day, so I don’t think it’s a case of him not staying the trip.
He’s in good form at home so has a rock-solid each-way shout.
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