Betfred Champagne Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 1m 25.93s

(5)

Cape Ashizuri⁶⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn

33/1

Won 6-runner maiden at Ayr (6f, good to soft) on debut in July, responding well. Open to improvement over a trip which should suit but this is a significant jump in class.

Form: 1

(1)

Cape Orator³⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 97

9/1

Left the form of his AW maiden win in June well behind when following up in a valuable sales race at Deauville (6.5f, good) last month. That impressive success suggests he can make his mark at Group level.

Form: 611

(2)

Gewan²⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: P J McDonald| T: A M Balding| OR: 110| D

6/5

2-2, looking a fine prospect when adding to Newbury debut success in the Group 3 Acomb at York (7f, good) month. Chaldean completed the Acomb/Champagne double for the yard in 2022 and this one can repeat the feat.

Form: 11

(4)

Oxagon⁴⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J & T Gosden| D

13/8

Frankel colt who was fifth in a very strong Newmarket July meeting maiden on debut and bolted up by 8 lengths from a subsequent winner at Sandown (7f) 19 days later. Exciting.

Form: 51

(3)

Puerto Rico³⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Levey| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 103

15/2

Still a maiden after 5 starts (all 6f) but runner-up twice at Group 2 level. Respectable 3¾ lengths fourth of 5 to Power Blue in Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh (6f, good to firm) 35 days ago. Tackles 7f for the first time here.

Form: 42224

Forecasts

Gewan (6/5), Oxagon (13/8), Puerto Rico (15/2), Cape Orator (9/1), Cape Ashizuri (33/1)

GEWAN is taken to emulate Chaldean, who completed the Acomb and Champagne double for the Andrew Balding stable in 2022. Oxagon looked a good prospect when a wide-margin winner at Sandown and is second choice ahead of Cape Orator, who bagged a valuable prize in France last month.