Champion Stakes at Ascot

the Qipco Champion Stakes over 10 furlongs at 17.05 CET today is the highlight of British Champions Day at Ascot and is one of the most valuable races of the season in Europe. The French have an excellent record here - including in the days when it was run at Newmarket - and we expect a French winner again today. The 7yo gelding Cirrus des Aigles (Corinne Barande-Barbe/ Christophe Soumillon) won this in 2011 and was runner-up the mighty Frankel last year. He was officially rated the best horse in the world after the retirement of Black Caviar, although we feel he has been overrated; however his form here gives him an obvious chance and the soft ground is ideal. He appeared to have lost form earlkier this season, but his last 2 victories, including his easy success for the third time in the Prix Dollar, show that he is nearly back to his best and he will be hard to beat. His fellow "frogs" Morandi (Jean-Claude Rouget/ Christophe Lemaire) and Triple Threat (André Fabre/ Maxime Guyon) could be the main threats and will also like the going.

Best of the Brits is clearly Godolphin´s Farhh (Saeed bin Suroor/ Silvestre de Sousa), who has not run since his easy Lockinge win in May; that was over a mile, but this trip is also no problem, nor is the long break, however we are a bit worried about the ground; he is out of the German mare Gonbarda, a daughter of Lando, and possibly needs faster ground to show his best form. Hillstar (Sir Michael Stoute/ Richard Hughes ) also has a chance, but it could be significant that Ryan Moore has jumped ship in order to partner Aidan O´Brien´s Ruler of the World, winner of the Derby, but well beaten last time in the Arc. Arc runners have a poor record here - remember Nijinsky!_ and we cannot fancy him. The other Irish runner Parish Hall (Jim Bolger/ Kevin Manning) also needs faster going, and the rest do not look good enough, so this should be another Gallic victory.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Estimate - Ahzeemah - Harris Tweed
2. Race: Maarek - Jack Dexter - Viztoria
3. Race: Talent - Dalkala - Hot Snap
4. Race: Dawn Approach - Olympic Glory - Maxios
5. Race: Cirrus des Aigles - Farhh - Mukhadram
6. Race: Breton Rock - Balty Boys - Sir Reginald