15:50 Ascot

Saturday 20 October 2018

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

Qipco Champion Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 15:53 | Winning time: 2m 8.79s

(5)

Capri¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 118| D

4/1

2017's St Leger winner and he was an excellent fifth in the Arc last time out. Very effective with cut in the ground but hasn't always given the impression he wants the drop back to this trip and quite possibly vulnerable to speedier types.

Form: 110-155

(8)

Cracksman^b1¹²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 125| BF| CD

5/6

Three-time Group 1 winner who was mightily impressive when winning this race last year. Mixed fortunes subsequently and can race very lazily but first -time blinkers might help on that front and he will love conditions here. The one to beat.

Form: 111-112

(1)

Crystal Ocean⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: W Buick| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 129| BF| C| D

11/4

Runner-up in last year's St Leger and improving this season, particularly impressive in winning the Hardwicke Stakes before getting caught late in the King George. Fair effort behind Enable last time but not sure to be suited by this drop in trip.

Form: 2-11122

(4)

Maverick Wave³⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: K T O'Neill| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 100| D

100/1

Group 3 winner in his pomp in 2015 but hasn't won since and may be in here to set a solid gallop for his stablemate. Plenty to find at this level.

Form: 200/488-

(3)

Monarchs Glen^h¹²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 118| CD

10/1

Won a Listed race over C&D last time at the Royal Meeting and this has reportedly been the long term target. Has a quite a lot to find on form but he gives the impression we haven't seen the best of him yet and worth a crack at this class of race.

Form: 4211-01

(7)

Subway Dancer¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Radek Koplik| T: Zdenek Koplik| OR: 108| D

66/1

Hasn't won since a Group 3 success in 2016 and has a first start in Group 1 company here after a pair of moderate runs at a lower level on his last two starts. Hard to fancy.

Form: 453266

(2)

Rhododendron¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 115| BF| D

25/1

Stayed on well to win the Lockinge earlier in the year but her campaign has rather come off the rails since. Has form on soft ground and this trip is probably her optimum so she's not without each-way claims if she can bounce back.

Form: 196960

(6)

Verbal Dexterity³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 112

20/1

Impressive winner of a Group 1 at the Curragh towards the end of last year. Perhaps hasn't trained on though and has been poor in two outings this time around. Has a bit to prove and needs to bounce back on this ground.

Form: 1214-47

Forecasts

Cracksman (5/6), Crystal Ocean (11/4), Capri (4/1), Monarchs Glen (10/1), Verbal Dexterity (20/1), Rhododendron (25/1), Subway Dancer (66/1), Maverick Wave (100/1)

First-time headgear might help bring CRACKSMAN back to his best and he will be hard to beat if he can get close to his performance in this last year. Stablemate Monarchs Glen is an interesting contender and he's lightly raced for his age. Capri is the first string for Aidan O'Brien but it might be worth taking a chance on Rhododendron at a likely much bigger price with conditions ideal for her here.