The Shanghai Race Club

British Racing is all set for the inaugural running of ‘British Champions Day’ which promises to be a glittering day of thoroughbred racing at the home of top class racing and glamour, Ascot.

Here is a rundown on the fields, with saddlecloth numbers, for the two ‘jewels’ in the British Champions Day crown – the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the QIPCO Champions Stakes.

THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II STAKES

1. Bullet Train – owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah. Is a half brother to Frankel and runs here purely to set the early gallop for his relative and stablement. No chance of winning.

2. Dick Turpin – owned by John Manley, Dick Turpin is a consistent horse who won at Group 1 level last time in Italy where he beat Cityscape. He was always considered slightly inferior to stablemate Canford Cliffs, which underlines the size of his task here.

3. Poet’s Voice – owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin, Poet’s Voice is the defending QEII Champion. However, his form this season has been relatively poor and it would be a huge shock to see him involved in the finish.

4. Side Glance – owned by Sheikh Fahad’s (who is behind the sponsors of the day, QIPCO) Pearl Bloodstock. It is good to see the generous sponsors of the day having a runner in this prestigious race and Side Glance has improved this season and won at both Listed at Group 3 level. However, another huge leap is required to trouble the main contenders here.

5. Dubawi Gold – owned by Andrew Tinker, Dubawi Gold is a talented horse, but he has been comprehensively beaten by Frankel on two occasions and also by Excelebration last time out. Hard to see him making the frame

6. Excelebration – owned by Manfredini and Coolmore. Excelebration has been beaten twice by Frankel this season, but he looks to have improved significantly since their last meeting and ran out an impressive winner of a Group 1 in France last time. Trainer Marco Botti is confident that he will get much closer to Frankel this time – and he looks a major contender for the first three.

7. Frankel – owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah. Frankel was the champion two year old last season and looks set to be the champion racehorse this year. Unbeaten and quite brilliant to watch, Frankel hasn’t just won his races, but has won them spectacularly. Trainer Henry Cecil reports that he thinks the horse is still improving and there is no reason to think any of these rivals can beat him

8. Immortal Verse – owned by Richard Strauss. Immortal Verse has improved significantly this season. She was an impressive winner of the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and produced an excellent turn of speed to the great Goldikova last time at Deauville. Obviously needs to produce something special to trouble Frankel, but she is a top class filly and deserves plenty of respect.

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VERDICT: Horse Racing is a sport in which shocks can occasionally happen and no horse, however good, can ever be considered to be totally unbeatable. That said, FRANKEL is quite simply one of the greatest horses ever to have graced the turf and if he runs to form, he should win – and win easily. Both Excelebration and Immortal Verse would be good enough to be considered as Champions in a normal year and both set a high bar for Frankel. They can chase him home in what promises to be a memorable contest.

QIPCO CHAMPIONS STAKES

1. Cirrus Des Aigles – owned by Jean Claude Dupouy, Cirrus des Aigles is a very consistent French trained horse. Has recorded some impressive successes in Group 2 and 3 company and finished in the frame at Group 1 level on three occasions. Would have preferred the ground to have been softer and needs to improve to make an impact.

2. Green Destiny – owned by Saleh Al Moaizi & Imad Al Sagar, Green Destiny has progressed from handicap company into the top flight. Earned a shot at this prize after winning a Group 3 at Newbury last time, but slight concern that he was well beaten on his last visit to this track.

3. Ransom Note - owned by Raymond Mould, Ransom Note made all the running to win a Group 2 last time. Would need to improve again to take a hand here but could run well if he isn’t taken on for the lead.

4. So You Think – owned by Coolmore, So You Think is an ultra-consistent colt and one of the best middle-distance horses in the world. Won both the Coral-Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes (both Group 1 contests) before finishing 4th in the Prix de L’Arc De Triomphe last time having suffered a difficult passage through the race. Big chance of making an impact.

5. Sri Putra – owned by HTH Sultan Ahmad Shah, Sri Putra has regularly come up short at Group 1 level and he looks out of his depth here.

6. Twice Over – owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah, Twice Over has won the last two runnings of the Champion Stakes (when held at Newmarket) and probably ran a career best last time when beating stablemate, Midday, in the Juddmonte Internmational. This race is tougher still, but should give a good account of himself.

7. Wigmore Hall – owned by MD Hawtin, Wigmore Hall has been campaigned at various targets around the globe this season and he finally landed a Grade 1 win last time, when winning the Northern Dancer Stakes at Woodbine, Canada. This race will be significantly tougher, though, and a place would probably be his best hope.

8. Midday – owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah, Midday is a truly world class mare who has notched up 6 wins at Group or Grade 1 level. Finished behind Twice Over last time, but her overall level of form gives her a good chance of reversing that form and she looks a threat to all here.

9. Snow Fairy – owned by Anamoine Limited, Snow Fairy is another top class mare. Trainer Ed Dunlop has won 4 Group 1s with her, including last season’s Hong Kong Cup – and she got the better of her Irish Champion Stakes conqueror, So You Think, when finishing 3rd in the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe. Has to be a serious contender on that run.

10. Casamento – owned by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin, Casamento was a Group 1 winner as a 2 year old, but disappointed on his first two starts for Godolphin this season. Showed improved form when winning a Group 3 last time, but this is much tougher and he looks up against it.

11. Dubai Prince - also owned by Godolphin, Dubai Prince is unbeaten in three starts – looking very promising when winning twice as a juvenile before suffering an injury which kept him off the track for 11 months. Won well on his reappearance at Newbury and although he needs to improve again, it is hard to know where his limit lies. He can’t be ruled out.

12. Nathaniel – owned by Lady Rothschild, Nathaniel was last seen when winning the King George and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes here at Ascot in July. Missed intended engagement in the Prix de L’Arc deTriomphe due to fast ground, so conditions here could be a concern – but this top class colt should still give a good account.

VERDICT: although So You Think is probably better than his Prix De l’Arc De Triomphe 4th suggested, it also perhaps suggested that Coolmore’s claims that he was the best horse ever to be trained at Ballydoyle were slightly overblown. He looks certain to run well, but might just find one too good. The one to beat him could be SNOW FAIRY, who had a very successful Autumn last year and who ran a blinder to finish 3rd in Paris. Of the Prince Khalid Abdullah pair, Midday is fancied to reverse form with Twice Over and Henry Cecil’s mare can make the frame.

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