13:50 Ascot

Saturday 21 October 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0515:4516:25

Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Off time: 13:52 | Winning time: 1m 16.92s

(1)

Art Power²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 114| C| D

40/1

Very talented on his day but tends to save his best for the Curragh, adding Group 2 Sapphire Stakes to his tally in July. Exploits have been a shade mixed since, including back at that venue and never figured on back of a tardy start in the Prix de l'Abbaye latest.

Form: 041560

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(8)

Kinross²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: L Dettori| T: R M Beckett| OR: 118| BF| CD

5/4

Impressive when doubling his tally at Group 1 level in this race 12 months ago and looked as good as ever this time around, landing Group 2's at Goodwood/York. Produced another fine effort when second in Prix de la Foret latest and he looks sure to make a bold bid to defend his crown.

Form: 3-73112

(6)

Rohaan¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: R L Moore| T: P D Evans| OR: 105| CD

11/1

Smart performer who goes particularly well at this venue (5-time C&D winner) and confirmed more positive signs from Ayr Gold Cup when landing class 2 C&D handicap 2 weeks ago. Finished an unlucky fourth in this race 12 months ago and not underestimated despite having bit to find on these terms.

Form: 076071

(5)

Run To Freedom^p⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: T E Whelan| T: H Candy| OR: 116| D

25/1

Ran a cracker when runner-up behind Kinross in this 12 months ago and confirmed that no fluke this time around, landing Salisbury listed event prior to big effort when runner-up in July Cup. Not in same form in Sprint Cup at Haydock but comes here fresher than most.

Form: 2-41920

(11)

Saint Lawrence^b⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 109| CD

18/1

Snapped losing sequence following yard switch/refitted with blinkers when landing the Wokingham at the Royal Meeting back in June. More than backed that up when third in Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest next start but does need to shrug off a lesser run in last month's Sprint Cup at Haydock.

Form: 0-60139

(9)

Spycatcher³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 110| BF| D

11/1

Improved performer this season, resuming winning ways in French Group 3 and went down all guns blazing in Prix Maurice De Gheest at Deauville on penultimate start. Weakened in to third late on in Group 2 Park Stakes (7f) latest but this ground will hold no fears.

Form: 142123

(14)

Mill Stream^t1⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 111| D

15/2

Fine efforts when twice placed behind the prolific Quinault in big-field handicaps this summer and matched that form when landing listed/Group 3 contests at Deauville in August. Went well for long way when sixth in last month's Sprint Cup and entitled to give another good account.

Form: 632116

(12)

Makarova^p1,t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: P Mulrennan| T: E Walker| OR: 107| D

66/1

Landed a listed contest at Ayr in June and held her own up in grade subsequently, fourth from a good draw in the Nunthorpe and similar form when 2 lengths sixth in Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp. Suspicion she will come up short again, however.

Form: 412446

(15)

Sandrine^v³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 113| CD

15/2

Smart filly who won the Lennox last season. Solid start to present campaign in the spring and ran right up to her best equipped with a visor, third behind Kinross in York Group 2 prior to going one place better in Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster (7f) 5 weeks ago.

Form: 250631

(10)

Sense Of Duty²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 108| D

14/1

Showcasing filly who was most progressive during first half of 2022, running out most impressive winner of Group 3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle in June. Creditable return from 15 months off when third in 5f, Newbury Group 3 in September but this rates a tough enough ask.

Form: 21/111-3

(2)

Vadream^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: K Shoemark| T: C Fellowes| OR: 107| CD

20/1

Smart mare who got back to her best during the spring, landing Group 3 Palace House at Newmarket in May. Disappointed next 3 starts but confirmed herself back in good form (after 3 months off) with good fifth in C&D Group 3 earlier this month. Forecast rain a major plus ahead of this.

Form: 610075

(4)

Believing^p1,t⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: G Boughey| OR: 109| D

28/1

Smart filly who scored twice during the spring (latterly a Group 3) and well suited by the strong pace when adding Pontefract listed event (6f) to her tally in August. Fine third in Sprint Cup at Haydock 6 weeks ago and she's well deserving of her place in this line up.

Form: 511013

(7)

Magical Sunset³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Rossa Ryan| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 107| D

80/1

Likeable type who handles the mud very well, as shown when winning Group 3 at Goodwood (7f) in August. Couldn't replicate that at Doncaster a month later and she's a very optimistic runner starting out for new stable now.

Form: 648710

(13)

Ocean Quest²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 107| BF| D

18/1

Smart filly who was fourth in this year's Commonwealth Cup and took her form up a notch when readily landing Naas Group 3 over this trip in August. Not ideally placed when fourth in Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh since and she's proven with plenty of give underfoot.

Form: 2-12414

(3)

Swingalong⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S H James| T: K R Burke| OR: 107| D

25/1

Group 2 winner as a juvenile who produced fine pair of in-the-frame efforts in Group 1 company either side of success in Grp. 3 Summer Stakes at York (6f) in July. Another with a bit to find on these terms but she's proven her effectiveness on a softer surface previously.

Form: 4-30314

Forecasts

Kinross (5/4), Mill Stream (15/2), Sandrine (15/2), Spycatcher (11/1), Rohaan (11/1), Sense Of Duty (14/1), Ocean Quest (18/1), Saint Lawrence (18/1), Vadream (20/1), Swingalong (25/1), Run To Freedom (25/1), Believing (28/1), Art Power (40/1), Makarova (66/1), Magical Sunset (80/1)

An impressive winner of this race 12 months ago, KINROSS has looked as good as ever this time around, landing a pair of Group 2s prior to a solid second in the Foret at Longchamp on his latest outing 3 weeks ago. With forecast conditions looking firmly in his favour he can make a bold bid to defend his crown. Vadream is another who will relish this ground and is feared, with last year's fourth Rohaan and Sandrine completing the shortlist.