14:00 Ascot

Saturday 21 October 2017

All13:2514:0014:4015:1515:5016:30

Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 14:04 | Winning time: 1m 16.78s

(2)

Brando²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 116| D

20/1

Good third in this race last year and landed a French Group 1 this year. Not in quite the same form on next couple of starts but can't be ruled out back here and the fact he stays this trip is a bonus on this sort of ground on a stiff track.

Form: 103197

(6)

Danzeno¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: L Dettori| T: M Appleby| OR: 104| C| D

33/1

Good third in this race in 2015 and runs well here but he's not been in the kind of form that would make him of interest in this. Only has a handicap win to his name this year and well beaten fourth in a Group 3 here last time; likely to struggle.

Form: 2-65174

(11)

Donjuan Triumphant^h²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: P J McDonald| T: A M Balding| OR: 114| D

20/1

Back in form having not won since a Group 2 win as a juvenile. Loves cut in the ground and his win last time out was impressive. Nature of this track plays to his strengths despite two disappointing runs here and he has place claims.

Form: 2-03911

(3)

Librisa Breeze⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: R Winston| T: D K Ivory| OR: 112| BF| C

10/1

Good fourth at the Royal meeting over C&D behind The Tin Man and both turf wins have come here. Ran well in a Newbury Group 2 last time and while his optimum trip may be 7f, he ought to be finishing off well late; should get a pace to aim at.

Form: 416-492

(5)

Tasleet^p⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 116| D

10/1

Unlucky when runner-up behind The Tin Man at the Royal meeting and stayed on well behind Harry Angel last time when second again. May struggle to reverse the form with that rival but plenty to like about the effort and he stays this trip well.

Form: 8-21202

(7)

The Tin Man⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: T P Queally| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 117| CD

9/1

Won this contest last year and won again over C&D at the Royal meeting with plenty of these in behind. Probably better on faster ground though and has work on to reverse the form with Harry Angel and Tasleet from last time.

Form: 21-5183

(4)

Washington Dc^b,t⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110| C| D

50/1

Has a couple of pattern wins to his name but tends to struggle at this level and he would want faster ground to be seen to best effect. Needs a strong pace to aim at and doesn't always get away well. Yard has stronger candidates.

Form: 260510

(12)

Caravaggio⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 121| CD

9/2

Narrowly beat Harry Angel over C&D but winning run came to a halt in the Darley July Cup and finished behind Brando in France. Appreciated the drop in trip and class last time but suspicion the aforementioned rival may have progressed past him now.

Form: 1-11461

(9)

Harry Angel⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 125| D

5/4

Followed a win in the Darley July Cup with another Group 1 win at Haydock last time, quickening impressively on heavy ground. Probably won't get an uncontested lead here but clearly the one they all have to beat having proven himself on the ground.

Form: 1-21211

(13)

Intelligence Cross^b,t⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110| D

100/1

Gained his first win of the season in a modest affair at Navan last time but highly tried prior to that, often deployed as a pacemaker. Doesn't mind cut in the ground but he'll do well to hang on for a place.

Form: 395061

(1)

Quiet Reflection²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: M Harley| T: K R Burke| OR: 116| CD

6/1

Seemingly over the top when contesting this race last year and only been seen twice this campaign. Showed she retained plenty of her ability at Naas last time when landing a Group 3 but she probably needs a career best to take this; each-way claims.

Form: 1317-01

(8)

Alphabet^t¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110| D

66/1

Just a maiden win to her name to date but ran well behind Quiet Reflection in a Group 2 at Naas in September. Struggled when upped to Group 1 class in France and disappointing in a Listed contest last time. May be here on pacemaking duties.

Form: 992205

Non-Runners

(10)

Tupi²⁹

Weight: 9-2| Age: 5

T: R Hannon J: S M Levey

Forecasts

Harry Angel (5/4), Caravaggio (9/2), Quiet Reflection (6/1), The Tin Man (9/1), Librisa Breeze (10/1), Tasleet (10/1), Brando (20/1), Donjuan Triumphant (20/1), Danzeno (33/1), Washington Dc (50/1), Alphabet (66/1), Tupi (66/1), Intelligence Cross (100/1)

Caravaggio is seemingly the pick of the Ballydoyle quartet and the three-year-old gives Aidan O'Brien a solid chance in the trainer's ongoing bid to surpass Bobby Frankel's Group 1 record, but preference is for the progressive HARRY ANGEL. Clive Cox's charge was mightily impressive in heavy ground at Haydock last time and a reproduction of that effort will see him very hard to beat here. Librisa Breeze and Tasleet ought to be finishing off well and make up the shortlist in a hot renewal of the race.