ASCOT bosses are all set to use the inner track for some races on Saturday’s star-studded Champions Day.
The Long Distance Cup, Fillies and Mares Stakes and feature Champion Stakes will all be diverted if ‘heavy’ appears in the going description.
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With rain set to fall between now and the first race, here are five horses who will relish soft conditions.
Kinross – British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1) 6f
Ralph Beckett’s veteran is 4-1 fave for the 6 furlong Champions Sprint (1.55) and loves a bit of juice in the ground.
Rossa Ryan’s mount was second last time out in a quagmire in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret in Longhcamp, Paris.
There has been some speculation about whether he will run, but yesterday Beckett told the Sun that was the plan.
And on Wednesday jockey Rossa Ryan, the other half of the Arc-winning duo, told the Sun: “We aren’t going to Ascot for the fun of it, he’s going with a good chance.
“He wants soft ground, he just finds it a lot easier going on soft and it looks like that’ll be the case with this weather.”
Unfortunately, he’s pitched up against William Haggas’ Montassib, 5-1, who is also a mud-lover and is in flying form after winning the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock in September.
Tamfana – Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1) 1m
David Menuisier’s three-year-old impressed when storming up in front of Inspiral in the Sun Chariot Stakes two weeks ago.
The 7-2 shot has form over further than a mile which could stand her in good stead in these testing conditions and she’s proven on heavy ground when winning the Prix Miesque last season.
Sweet William – Long Distance Cup (Group 2) 2m
A 6-1 chance for John and Thady Gosden, he won the Group 2 Doncaster Cup last time out – a 2m2 marathon in good-soft going, so he should be well on track to cope at Ascot on Saturday.
His only other win this season was on soft ground in the Henry II Stakes at Sandown in May over this distance.
However, he looks like he will have his work cut out if Aidan O’Brien’s unstoppable winning machine Kyprios turns up, with him having beaten Sweet William twice this season.
Calandagan – Champion Stakes (Group 1) 1m2f
Francis Henri Graffard’s French hope seriously impressed in the Juddmonte International, finishing only a length behind City Of Troy.
Prior to that he smashed the field to bits in the King Edward at Royal Ascot on good to firm.
But the 7-4 shot for Saturday has previously shown he can handle the mud, specifically when winning the the Group 3 Prix Hoquart at Longchamp in May.
The first French winner of the week! 🇫🇷
Calandagan blows them apart in the King Edward VII Stakes! #ITVRacing | #RoyalAscot | @pasquito60 |@GraffardRacing pic.twitter.com/YeTsYFJL3o
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 21, 2024
He also has the backing of his connections when it comes to the bog.
Nemone Routh, the Aga Khan’s racing manager, told the Racing Post: “We have no concerns when it comes to the ground. He’s a very clean-actioned horse.
“It was really heavy for his first run this season and he got through it, and he quickened. And he obviously suits the Ascot track.”
On the other hand, his big rival, the Haggas-trained Economics has a bit of a question mark hanging over him as he is untested on this ground – although trainer William Haggas insists he will be fine.
Tiffany – Fillies & Mares (Group 1) 1m3f
Sir Mark Prescott’s 8-1 shot has been stacking up the wins on soft ground – she won a Group 2 in Germany on good to soft last time out.
And she has a Group 3 and Listed win this season both on soft ground.
She’s pitched against Andrew Balding’s brilliant Kalpana, who, at 15-8 will take some beating, but if it’s knee deep who knows what will happen.
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