13:55 Ascot

Saturday 19 October 2024

All13:2013:5514:3515:1515:5516:35

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

Off time: 13:56 | Winning time: 1m 17.22s

(4)

Annaf²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Watson| T: M Appleby| OR: 113| CD

28/1

Thrived this time last year, taking the Portland and Group 3 over C&D, and added another win to his tally in Group 2 in the Middle East in February. Likely to be at his peak following 2 comeback runs last month, seeming to find a bare 5f against him at Newbury, and not dismissed back here.

Form: 11-2103

(12)

Art Power⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 110| CD

16/1

Has form figures of 4481 in this race, finally landing the big pot he'd long promised when beating Kinross 12 months ago. Form mixed this year but was a good fourth in the July Cup and no surprise to see him go well here again with conditions in his favour.

Form: 404250

(2)

Audience⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 124| BF

10/1

Made all (raced apart from rest) in the Lockinge at Newbury on reappearance and quickly back to his best when defying a penalty in Group 2 Lennox at Goodwood, beating Art Power and Kinross. Off day when odds on for York Group 2 latest and has rare crack at 6f now with the ground probably not ideal.

Form: 23-1514

(18)

Kinross¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 117| BF| CD

7/2

Very smart and likeable performer who won this in 2022 and was edged out by Art Power last year. Arrives in top form following victory in the Park Stakes at Doncaster and another second in the Prix de La Foret and looks set for another big performance.

Form: 2-28312

(8)

Mill Stream⁷⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: W Buick| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 117| BF| D

14/1

Has had a fine year, winning the Duke of York and July Cup, with a good third in the QEII Jubilee at Royal Ascot in between. Ran a bit flat in the Maurice de Gheest 11 weeks ago but shouldn't stay down for long.

Form: 8-21315

(6)

Montassib⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Cieren Fallon| T: W J Haggas| OR: 115| D

7/1

Has taken his form to a new level this year and made it 4 wins from his last 5 starts when edging out Kind of Blue in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock 6 weeks ago. Handles soft conditions well and is a key player.

Form: 51-1611

(14)

Moss Tucker^v1,t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Billy Lee| T: K J Condon| OR: 110| D

80/1

Successful return at Naas but well below that form since, including in the Abbaye a fortnight ago, and up against it in a first-time visor here.

Form: 0-17900

(5)

Shartash^b1³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 108| D

66/1

Successful on his first 2 starts of the year over 7f and went close behind Shouldvebeenaring in 6f Deauville Group 3 in the summer. Not so good since and plenty on his plate here in first-time blinkers.

Form: 118356

(1)

Shouldvebeenaring⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 107| D

100/1

Just failed behind Mill Stream in the Duke of York in May and landed a Deauville Group 3 in the summer. Poor at Newmarket last week and hard to fancy from stall 1.

Form: 913039

(10)

Spycatcher²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: S H James| T: K R Burke| OR: 111| D

20/1

Fared best of those held up when just over 2 lengths behind Art Power and Kinross in this last year and added another Deauville Group 3 to his tally this summer. Good run at the Curragh latest and conditions have come right for him again so no surprise to see him outrun his odds.

Form: 056105

(16)

Vafortino⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: C Soumillon| T: K P De Foy| OR: 107| C

80/1

2022 Victoria Cup winner who ran well on his only go over 6f for this yard in the Wokingham in June. Runner-up again in a Group 2 at York 8 weeks ago but probably only playing for a place again at best in such a hot contest.

Form: 1-26632

(19)

Beauvatier¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Alexis Pouchin| T: Y Barberot| OR: 111| BF| D

9/1

Won his first 4 starts in his homeland last year and placed on all bar one of his runs since, ending up with a lot to do when third in the Prix de La Foret at the Arc Meeting a fortnight ago. Goes well in the mud and an interesting contender, representing different formlines to the principals.

Form: 203333

(15)

Bucanero Fuerte³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: D Egan| T: A Murray| OR: 113| D

22/1

Group 1 winner at 2 yrs and successful in 6f Naas Group 3 on return in May. Might have needed his 2 runs back last month, fading in the Haydock Sprint Cup and taken off his feet behind Bradsell in the Flying Five. Proven in the mud and not dismissed.

Form: 113-167

(3)

Elite Status⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 112| D

12/1

Much improved in his second season, winning 6f listed and Group 3 at Newbury, clear of Kind of Blue in the latter. Not seen to best effect drawn away from the main principals in the Haydock Sprint Cup last time and could have a bigger effort in him at the top level.

Form: 178-118

(7)

James's Delight⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: R L Moore| T: C G Cox| OR: 110| BF| D

18/1

Has had a great season, notching up a fourth win of the year in 6f listed race at Deauville in July before splitting Spycatcher and Beauvatier there last time (better placed than the third). Proven in the mud and has Ryan Moore in the plate again but this is a big step up.

Form: 910112

(17)

Kind Of Blue⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: James Doyle| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 114| D

10/1

Has come a long way since winning his first two in the spring, taking another big leap forward when just failing behind Montassib in the Sprint Cup at Haydock 6 weeks ago. From the family of The Tin Man and Deacon Blues, both winners of this race for the stable, and looks poised for another big run.

Form: 114322

(13)

Swingalong⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Billy Loughnane| T: K R Burke| OR: 113| D

17/2

Group 3 winner at York last year and better than ever when narrowly beaten in the QEII Jubilee here and July Cup at Newmarket (headed late on by Mill Stream) this summer. Another not seen to best effect in the Haydock Sprint Cup and she forms part of a mighty challenge for Karl Burke.

Form: 44-8227

(9)

Unequal Love⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 109| BF| CD

18/1

Has gone from strength to strength this year, taking the Wokingham over C&D before good runs behind Flora of Bermuda at York (third, not seen to best effect) and stablemate Montassib and Kind of Blue at Haydock. More needed again to take a hand here but it's not impossible.

Form: 4-15133

(11)

Vadream¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: K Shoemark| T: C Fellowes| OR: 107| CD

33/1

Has blown hot and cold this year but ran well in the Group 3 Bengough over C&D a fortnight ago, a race she won in 2021 when also fifth in this. Fourth behind Montassib and co in the Haydock Sprint Cup but she'll do well to better that here.

Form: 573404

(20)

Flora Of Bermuda⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 106| D

25/1

Won the Group 3 Summer Stakes at York in July and has remained in form, finishing with running left when fifth to Montassib in the Haydock Sprint Cup. Plenty more on her plate now. Yard took this with 33/1 shot in 2019.

Form: 4-92145

Forecasts

Kinross (7/2), Montassib (7/1), Swingalong (17/2), Beauvatier (9/1), Kind Of Blue (10/1), Audience (10/1), Elite Status (12/1), Mill Stream (14/1), Art Power (16/1), James's Delight (18/1), Unequal Love (18/1), Spycatcher (20/1), Bucanero Fuerte (22/1), Flora Of Bermuda (25/1), Annaf (28/1), Vadream (33/1), Shartash (66/1), Moss Tucker (80/1), Vafortino (80/1), Shouldvebeenaring (100/1)

KIND OF BLUE has gone from strength to strength in his first season, just failing behind Montassib in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock 6 weeks ago. He's since changed hands privately and certainly has the pedigree for this race, being related to the yard's 2011 and 2016 winners Deacon Blues and The Tin Man. There is probably a bigger performance in his locker and if he handles conditions he seems sure to go well. French-runner Beauvatier, 2022 winner Kinross and Montassib are firmly in the mix.