15:50 Ascot

Saturday 21 October 2017

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

Qipco Champion Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 2m 11.75s

(8)

Desert Encounter^h²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: S M Levey| T: D M Simcock| OR: 114| C

33/1

Out-run his odds when placed at 50/1 in the Eclipse and back to winning ways in a Group 3 last time. Drop back in trip no real concern but looks a little vulnerable back up at this level.

Form: 2-12361

(9)

Highland Reel⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 123| CD

17/2

In fine form this year, landing his fifth and sixth Group 1 contests in the process but finished well beaten on soft ground in the King George over C&D last time and ground appears to have gone against him again here.

Form: 12-7114

(5)

Maverick Wave⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 101| D

100/1

Group 3 winner a few years ago but has been deployed as a pacemaker on most recent starts and set to play a similar role for his stablemate today.

Form: 0200-48

(7)

Poet's Word⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 119| D

7/1

Winner of a Group 3 at Goodwood in August and seemingly flattered by his finishing position in the Irish Champion Stakes when many of the field went too hard on the front end. Will want a fast pace to be seen at his best but others preferred.

Form: 12-1212

(10)

Success Days^t⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Shane Foley| T: K J Condon| OR: 114| D

40/1

Front-running mud lover who's won four Group races in his time, all with soft or yielding in the going. Went too hard from the front in the Irish Champion Stakes last time and not without an each-way chance if his jockey can get the fractions right.

Form: 0-24210

(2)

Barney Roy⁵⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: R Hannon| OR: 122| C

9/2

Touched off by Ulysses in the Eclipse and beaten by that rival again in soft ground at York last time. Brings strong form into the contest but gives the impression he wants fast ground to be at his best and conditions seem to have gone against him.

Form: 1-12123

(3)

Brametot²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: C Demuro| T: J C Rouget| D

11/2

Rattled off a classy hat-trick earlier in the year, with the third win coming in the French Derby. Very disappointing favourite after missing the break in a Deauville Group 2 but better last time in the Arc and won't mind the ground here.

Form: 1-11155

(1)

Cliffs Of Moher^t⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Seamie Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 118| BF| D

10/1

Won a Listed contest at Chester before finishing runner-up in the Derby next time out. Has proved disappointing in a trio of Group 1 efforts since though and may want faster ground. Second-string on jockey bookings.

Form: 1-12446

(4)

Cracksman⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 122| D

13/8

Excellent third in the Derby, faring best of those on the pace and just touched off in the Irish Derby. Has landed two Group 2 races since but there's a question mark over how suitable the ground will be and whether this drop in trip will suit.

Form: 1-13211

(6)

Recoletos³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: O Peslier| T: C Laffon-Parias| D

14/1

Group 2 winner who subsequently finished 1L third behind Brametot in the French Derby. Disappointing next time but back to form with a Group 3 win at Maisons-Laffitte and won't mind the ground. Needs to find improvement to figure.

Form: 111371

Forecasts

Cracksman (13/8), Barney Roy (9/2), Brametot (11/2), Poet's Word (7/1), Highland Reel (17/2), Cliffs Of Moher (10/1), Recoletos (14/1), Desert Encounter (33/1), Success Days (40/1), Maverick Wave (100/1)

With fears over the ground for several runners, it may be worth siding with BRAMETOT. The French Derby winner got back on track with a good fifth in the the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last time out and the yard landed this contest last year with champion three-year-old Almanzor. Cracksman brings strong form into the race and there's a suspicion we are yet to see the best of him but there's question marks whether this drop in trip will suit. Success Days and Recoletos are two that will appreciate conditions and could be considered for each-way purposes.