Inspiral wins the Coronation Stakes

British Champions Day preview: What the trainers say

By Sporting Life

Horse Racing

Sat October 15, 2022 · 2y ago

Views from connections of some of the leading contenders on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot including John Gosden on fillies Emily Upjohn and Mimikyu.

Champions Day runners and riders:

QIPCO British Champion Stakes

Baaeed will command the attention of the racing world when he bids to finish his illustrious career in perfect fashion on Qipco British Champions Day.

The brilliant colt, who is owned by Shadwell and trained by William Haggas, did not appear on a racecourse until his three-year-old season, winning at the first time of asking when landing a Leicester maiden last June.

He has been in the ascendancy ever since, rising up through novice races to Listed and then Group events without finding a horse able to better him.

A dual Group One winner after at the close of his first season, the son of Sea The Stars set out this term with a burgeoning reputation to upkeep and an intriguing question mark over how far his stamina could be stretched beyond a mile.

After straightforward successes in the Lockinge, the Queen Anne and the Sussex Stakes, Haggas tested the waters at a 10-furlong trip for the first time in the Juddmonte International at York in August.

Baaeed not only survived the extra two furlongs, he thrived, cruising to a facile six-and-a-half-length victory over previous winner Mishriff.

That display of stamina opened previously ajar doors, with the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at first dismissed only for a rethink to suggest Paris could be on the agenda after all, before that was eventually vetoed in favour of the Qipco Champion Stakes – which had always been ‘Plan A’.

The race will be Baaeed’s last and brings to a close the thus-far flawless career that a great number of racing lovers hope remains intact.

“It’s been very nice at the sales actually, I’ve been walking around looking at yearlings and so many people have kindly wished us luck for Saturday,” Haggas said.

“I think a lot of people who love horse racing, and there are plenty of us, want to see him strut his stuff and win the race. I think they want to see a really top horse unbeaten.

“I think it’s terribly important (to be unbeaten) now we’re nearly there, we’ve got one race to go.

“Frankel was, obviously, but few are unbeaten in a career at that level. Of course we want him to win every race he runs in, it would be sad if he was beaten – but only for us, it wouldn’t be sad for the people who beat us!”

Baaeed will face eight rivals at Ascot, with Charlie Appleby’s Adayar looking the danger after an injury-delayed campaign that has seen him take to the track just once as a four-year-old.

Last year, however, he landed both the Derby and the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes before finishing fourth in the Arc and then fifth in the Champion.

“He’s obviously a very good horse, he’s won the Derby and the King George,” Haggas said.

“I know he’s a fresh horse, arguably his best form is over a mile and half. Charlie’s horses are running really well and he’s talking him up big time, whether that’s to knock an hour off my sleep at night or he genuinely feels that, I don’t know!”

Baaeed won his maiden by over a length, but it was his second run at Newmarket that really piqued Haggas’ interest, with his subsequent Listed victory in the Sir Henry Cecil Stakes enough to inspire the trainer to put in a call to the handicapper and see if his high estimations were shared.

He said: “He was just a nice horse with a nice pedigree and we have a few of them. After his second race, when he won his novice by seven lengths or more, I thought ‘it’s not bad, this’, then he won the Listed race and I rang Dominic Gardiner-Hill, who is the senior handicapper.

“He is neutral, obviously, I said there seemed to be a bit of hype about the horse and asked what he made of him and he said ‘to be honest, William, I’ve given him 121, which is a hell of a rating after winning a Listed race, but I could have easily given him more. I felt like I couldn’t put him higher than the Guineas winner, which was Poetic Flare, at this stage of his career.’

“He couldn’t put a Listed winner ahead of a Guineas winner, and rightly so, but when Dominic said that to me I thought ‘crikey, this must be something a bit different’.”

That certainly proved to be true, and while anticipation is building for Baaeed’s final run, Haggas is content that he has the horse in the best possible form and accepts he will be able to do no more once jockey Jim Crowley is legged up on Saturday.

He said: “The weather we can do nothing about, the draw we can do nothing about. If we do our job then it’s up to Jim, if Jim continues to do what he’s been doing so far then hopefully he’ll run to his best. If he does that he’s got a good chance.

“I don’t believe much in pressure, I have a sign in my office that has five words in big capitals, saying ‘worry is a futile emotion’.

“There’s not a lot of point in worrying about things you can’t do anything about, we can do something about his well-being, and so far he’s passed every test. We’re very happy at this stage.

“It’s been very hard this year to keep to my other little adage, which is that it’s better to keep your mouth closed and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt! I’ve been talking a lot about this horse, it’s up to him now and up to me to stop talking and let him do his thing.”

Charlie Appleby is well aware of the task facing Adayar. Having created a piece of racing history last summer by becoming the first horse since Galileo in 2001 to win the Derby and the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the same season, it looked as though the world was his oyster.

His season ended on a down note, however, with defeats in heavy ground in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and just two weeks later in the Champion Stakes. This year, after an early setback, he arrives as the freshest horse in the field off the back of just one win at Doncaster against two inferior rivals.

“I’ve been delighted with him,” said Appleby. “His preparation has gone well and he goes to Ascot in great shape – in better shape than a year ago without a shadow of a doubt.

“We couldn’t have been more pleased with the way he did it at Doncaster on his return to the track, or more importantly the way he’s come out of it. We know we’ve got a big task ahead of us, taking on Baaeed, but he’s 100 per cent the Adayar of old.

“We are relaxed about the ground. If it’s decent ground then Baaeed will be hard to beat, but if it’s testing we’ve got the experience in those conditions and we know he stays a mile and a half, so the stiff 10 furlongs will suit him. We’ve seen what this horse can do, he’s a Derby winner and a King George winner.

“Last year we missed our prep for the Arc and then ran in the Arc on bottomless ground. Then the Champion came just two weeks later on soft ground again. He still put up a creditable performance (fifth), but going into it this year it is a different ball game.”

Adayar had been in the frame for the Arc again, but Appleby added: “I’ve no regrets at all about missing the Arc. It was a great race to watch and I was delighted for Sir Mark (Prescott) and all of his team, but I’ve no regrets whatsoever about not running there.”

Sir Michael Stoute has not won the race since Kalanisi struck gold in 2000, with Pilsudski in 1997 the only other victor for the Newmarket handler.

Bay Bridge is his representative this year, having looked a superstar in the making when winning the Brigadier Gerard by five lengths in May, before finishing second in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and disappointing in the Eclipse on his most recent run in July.

“It’s a tough race against a world beater and last year’s Derby winner, but it’s the Champion Stakes, so it’s entitled to be,” said Stoute.

“After Sandown we had to stop him with a foot problem, but we’ve got him back now and we’ve been pleased with his preparation. We are looking forward to it.”

Baaeed is clearly William Haggas’ flagbearer, but he also runs My Prospero and last year’s runner-up Dubai Honour.

“Dubai Honour was second in the Champion last year. The softer the ground, the better, it’s probably not going to be soft enough for him,” said Haggas.

“He’s a good horse in his own right, he’s going well, he’s going to have cheekpieces on. I think he’ll run well, James Doyle is going to ride him and he gets a good tune out of him.

“The interesting one and the one with potential is My Prospero. He is owned by Mrs Tsui and by Sea The Stars, she’s very keen for Baaeed to do very well (as he is a son of the stallion).

“He’s a very talented horse. Unfortunately, when he won the Group Two in France, after the line he slipped over and had a crash with another runner that also slipped over.

“He’s taken a long time to come right but he’s right now. Tom (Marquand) rode him on Tuesday in a piece of work that impressed both of us. He probably wouldn’t want the ground too soft.”

Roger Varian runs Royal Champion while there are three Irish-trained runners – Noel Meade’s Helvic Dream, the Jim Bolger-trained Mac Swiney and Aidan O’Brien’s Stone Age, sent off second-favourite for the Derby back in June.

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

Owners Cheveley Park Stud are happy to take on the boys again in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes as Inspiral aims to emulate the success of Persuasive five years ago.

The one blemish on the record of the three-year-old Frankel filly came when beaten at long odds-on in the Falmouth Stakes in July. However, that came after one of the standout performances of the season in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot – her first run of the year after a setback prevented her from taking her chance in the 1000 Guineas.

Like Persuasive, Inspiral is trained at Clarehaven and John and Thady Gosden brought her back to her best to win the Prix Jacques le Marois last time out.

“That was a lovely day five years ago, it’s always exciting to beat the boys with a filly, the likes of Ribchester and Churchill. The three-year-olds have a decent record, too,” said Cheveley Park’s Chris Richardson.

“Royal Ascot was very impressive and while the Falmouth didn’t go to plan, it’s like anything, all these races will unravel in time so we’ll just hope for a bit of luck. Deauville saw her get back on track and thankfully the ground isn’t going to be as soft as it has been in previous years – there are lots of other variables to consider in such a strong race, though.”

He added: “The Breeders’ Cup isn’t in our thoughts. She’ll have this race and all being well she stays in training next year.”

Inspiral’s main market rival is Charlie Appleby’s Modern Games, who to date has reserved his best efforts for overseas. He won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last year and the French Guineas and Woodbine Mile this year.

“He didn’t stay in the French Derby, admittedly beaten by a very good horse in Vadeni,” Appleby told Godolphin.

“We then, at that time, had that collection of horses we were trying to keep apart (Native Trail and Coroebus) so we decided to drop him back to seven at Deauville and he just found that on the sharp side.

“He then stepped back up to a mile for the Sussex and realistically he probably put up a career-best performance when second to Baaeed. The plan was always then to go to Canada and then on to the Breeders’ Cup.

“With the ground at this time of year unpredictable we weren’t always committed to running here but the forecast was more settled than usual and as long as it is no worse than good to soft/soft he’ll take his chance.”

Jadoomi is seen as the unknown quantity by many. Since being gelded Simon and Ed Crisford’s four-year-old has won all three starts, most recently a Group Two by four lengths on Irish Champions Weekend.

Simon Crisford said of his supplemented contender: “Jadoomi is in great form. He won very well in Ireland and Sheikh Ahmed (owner) was very keen for him to take his chance.”

William Knight’s Checkandchallenge is very capable at his best but looks to have a bit to find with the main protagonists.

He said: “Checkandchallenge had a little bit of a hiccup 10 days before Longchamp (third in Prix Daniel Wildenstein) when he had pus in his foot, missing four or five days so he couldn’t go for the Joel. So in the circumstances I was delighted with how well he ran, as he probably wasn’t 100 per cent there.

“He’s come out of that race in really good order so I am really looking forward to running him on Saturday. In an ideal world we would like another week but it’s the way the race has landed.”

One horse who has been a standing dish in this race for the past three years, with form figures of second, won and fourth, is Francis Graffard’s The Revenant. But the ground is not as soft as he would like.

“We go with a lot of humility, (but) he will run a good race as he always does,” Graffard told Sky Sports Racing.

“Of course there are a lot of strong horses in the race, but I’m happy to go back with The Revenant and he will be at the peak of his form to show his best. If the ground is good/good to soft he will run a strong race still.”

Roger Varian describes his two runners, Bayside Boy and El Drama, as “lively outsiders.

“Both will be outsiders in the field, but lively outsiders,” said Varian, whose Roseman came within a head of causing a 28/1 upset in 2020.

“They are both coming off the back of great runs. Bayside Boy got back into winning ways at Sandown and looks to be in great form. He got a bit lost in the summer on fast ground but has very good juvenile form.

“El Drama ran a lovely race at Newmarket (second in the Joel) and he would have come on for the run. I think both are capable of outrunning their odds. ”

Tempus represents Hambleton Racing, Archie Watson and Hollie Doyle who tasted Champions Day success with Glen Shiel in the Sprint two years ago.

“His work was always smart from an early stage so we hoped he would do very well, but he’s just improved,” said racing manager Simon Turner. “He finds himself here on merit and we are really looking forward to running him.

"I was told Tempus is the highest rated syndicate-owned horse in Europe. I’ve looked into it and it does appear to be true so we are very proud of him. Ascot and a bit of juice in the ground will suit him well and his form gives him every chance of being in the mix.”

QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes

Frankie Dettori puts his faith in Emily Upjohn to bounce back to top form and defy a wide draw in the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes. The rider had the pick of John and Thady Gosden’s two runners, plumping for the narrow Epsom Oaks second over Mimikyu, who secured a decisive success in the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster last month.

Emily Upjohn was beaten just a short head in the June Classic and was subsequently expected to take a hand in the finish of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes over this course and distance in July, having had an Irish Oaks bid scuppered by travel issues.

However, she was far too keen in the early stages and eventually came home last of the six runners, with the Gosden team applying a hood this time in the hope of helping her to settle.

Thady Gosden said: “Emily Upjohn had a great start to the year but over-raced a little bit in the King George. She has been given time to settle down and seems well in herself now. The hood will keep her a little more relaxed. She’s been training in it at home and it seems to work well.

“Mimikyu has progressed well and won the Park Hill last time. She is coming back down in trip which shouldn’t be an issue.”

While Emily Upjohn is drawn in stall 10, Mimikyu will break from the opposite side in one, but Gosden has full confidence in Dettori and Mimkyu’s rider Robert Havlin to ably deal with their respective hands.

He added: “Frankie had the choice of two classy fillies. Mimikyu is drawn in gate one while Emily Upjohn is in 10. It’s a full field and they even had to ballot a couple of horses out. There are plenty of smart fillies in there.

“You would rather not be drawn as far inside as one and not quite as far out as 10 but Frankie knows his way around Ascot pretty well, as does Rab, so we will have to see how they break and work out how they sit in the field.”

Emily Upjohn looks likely to go off favourite for her third attempt in Group One company, but her main market rival appears to be the Charlie Appleby-trained Eternal Pearl, who will be having her first try at the highest level.

The Frankel filly has made relentless progress after coming home fourth on her racecourse bow at Ascot in April, winning her last four starts and progressing from a novice strike to Group Three glory on her last two starts.

Appleby said: “Eternal Pearl is stepping up to Group One company for the first time. We are testing the waters, but she goes from strength to strength and on what she’s achieved so far she won’t look out of place.

“Staying is her forte, and if it came up testing it would play to her strengths.”

Appleby and William Haggas are currently battling it out at the top of the trainers’ championship and the £283,550 first prize would certainly enhance either of their chances.

Haggas fields two in his quest for glory, with Prix de Royallieu victor Sea La Rosa leading the way ahead of Prix Vermeille second Lilac Road.

The Newmarket handler said: “I think it’s a really good renewal this year, but both of our fillies are really well. Sea La Rosa has been a revelation this year. She stays well and tries hard, so I think she’s bound to be in the shake-up, but whether she’s quite good enough we’ll see.

“Lilac Road has also done nothing but improve, and I thought she was a bit unlucky in the Nassau before running a terrific race in the Prix Vermeille.”

The form of Haggas’ duo ties in with Francis Graffard’s pair of French challengers, with Vermeille victor Sweet Lady and Royallieu seventh Verry Elleegant both going for gold.

While Sweet Lady’s claims are obvious, last year’s Melbourne Cup winner and 11-times Group One scorer Verry Elleegant is on a redemption mission after the Australian star endured a disappointing run on Arc weekend.

Graffard told Sky Sports Racing: “Sweet Lady has strong form. She likes a bit of cut in the ground also. She won a Group Two at the beginning of the year and ran a cracking race behind Alpinista at Saint-Cloud from very far back.

“I think a bit of cut in the ground and a fast pace will suit her and Ascot will suit her too. It’s a logical race for her and she will be ready to run a very good race. Hopefully she’s good enough to beat the rest of the field.

“Verry Elleegant didn’t race at all in the Royallieu. The owner said to the jockey there was one place she didn’t want to be and that is on the rail boxed in because she hates that – and from the first bend it was very painful to watch because the mare was never comfortable, she pulled really hard all the way and had no room.

“It was a very upsetting run for her, and I’m upset for the mare as she doesn’t deserve such bad results – it doesn’t show how good she is. If she has a clear run and she’s unplaced then fair enough, that’s probably because she’s not good enough. But from what she shows in a work morning I think she can be very competitive.”

READ: Ben Linfoot on the freshness angle heading to Ascot

QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes

Kinross arrives at Ascot in the form of his life as he attempts to make it four wins on the bounce in the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes.

A four-time winner heading into his five-year-old season, Ralph Beckett’s charge will have doubled that tally if claiming consecutive Group One prizes, dropping back in trip for the six-furlong sprinting showdown.

Although beaten a neck twice in his first three outings this term, his luck changed when reversing Goodwood form with Sandrine to land the City of York Stakes in August. That kick-started a three-race winning run which included victories in the Park Stakes and Group One honours in France when scoring in the Prix de la Foret.

Now he attempts to win over six furlongs for the first time in his 20-race career from a draw that will require Frankie Dettori to be at his very best. The Breeders’ Cup Mile remains Kinross’ ultimate end-of-season aim, but connections have decided to roll the dice with the son of Kingman thriving at present.

“The horse is in great shape and has probably never been better,” said Jamie McCalmont, racing manager to owner Marc Chan.

“He’s won his last three starts and was probably a little unfortunate not to have won at Goodwood before that. The ground conditions are going to be in his favour, but he’s never won over six furlongs before, and it could depend on how the draw works out a little bit – I wouldn’t like to make too many excuses because we’ve had a great year and the horse is thriving so well.

“Obviously, the target is the Breeders’ Cup Mile, but the horse is probably at his peak right now and if horses are thriving, they should be running."

The last time Kinross ran over this distance was in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot when eighth, beaten two and a quarter lengths. Although better over an extra furlong, connections hope conditions can play to his strengths this time.

McCalmont continued: “I think he could have been closer at Royal Ascot if he had the conditions he will encounter Saturday, so in theory he should be competitive on Saturday that’s for sure.

“When we went to France, we were very confident, but you wouldn’t be as confident going into this race as it is six furlongs and, clearly, he is a seven-furlong specialist. But it’s great to be running on an amazing day of racing and lucky enough to witness a horse like Baaeed bow out."

Creative Force took home the spoils 12 months ago and the defending champion is one of two in the race for trainers’ title-seeking Charlie Appleby alongside Royal Ascot winner Naval Crown.

"They both galloped on the Rowley Mile. Last time they ran on ground that was quick enough, and I wanted them to go to the track again to enjoy themselves and know that it’s not going to be rattling quick going every time they go to the races,” said the Moulton Paddocks handler.

“They had a lovely gallop and came out of it in great order. You can see visually that they are both in A1 condition. There wasn’t much between them at Ascot and then they both ran creditable races in the July Cup.

“After that Creative Force has had a break to wait for the autumn ground whereas Naval Crown went on to Haydock and that was a disappointing run there. How do we split them? I suppose one (Creative Force) has been there and done it on that occasion on similar ground so that is probably the edge he has over Naval Crown, but I couldn’t be happier with both of them.”

Art Power was sent off 3/1 favourite for the 2021 renewal and is high up in the betting once again following his facile victory in the Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh.

“He ran a super prep race in Ireland and he’s in top form, said trainer Tim Easterby.

“It’s not imperative but he likes a bit of juice in the ground, which he should get. It won’t be firm like Haydock anyway. I think he’ll run very well. It would be nice if he could finish in the first three and even better if he could win."

The challenge from Yorkshire is bolstered by Richard Fahey, who saddles both Perfect Power and Middleham Park Racing’s Ventura Diamond. Perfect Power is two from two at Ascot and a dual winner at the Royal meeting. He will be ridden for the first time by Tom Marquand and his handler is hoping ease in the ground can help the colt back to his best.

“He’s in great form, working well, and we are very happy with him,” said Fahey.

“It’s been quite quick ground for him a few times now and he just wants a bit of decent ground. He’d been on the go a long time too, having started out in the Greenham back in April, so we were keen to get a bit of a break into him and he’s come back in great order. Tom won’t have sat on him before, but good jockeys don’t need to and he’s pretty straightforward anyway."

Aidan O’Brien has decided to drop Tenebrism back in trip sooner than envisaged. The speedy daughter of Caravaggio started the season as 11/4 favourite for the 1000 Guineas and landed the Prix Jean Prat over seven furlongs earlier in the campaign, but the master of Ballydoyle believes six furlongs could be her best trip.

“She’s in good form. We were going to drop her back next year, but she came out of the last race so well and this race was there. We know she handles an ease in the ground, so we said we’d let her go.

“We always thought she was crying out for six, but we kept her the other way thinking we would go back next year. It will be interesting.”

Others to note include David Evans’ Ascot specialist Rohaan and Hugo Palmer’s hat-trick-seeking Brad The Brief as 18 go to post for this typically competitive renewal.

QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup

The best is still to come from St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov, according to his trainer Roger Varian.

The three-year-old, who powered to Classic success at Doncaster last month, steps up to two miles for the first time in the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup with a ringing endorsement from the Newmarket handler.

“He’s been progressing all year and seems to be getting better,” said Varian. “We think his best is still to come, hopefully on Saturday and beyond into next year. He shapes like he’ll stay two miles, looks like he might be better over it.”

Winner of four of his five starts, including a Queen’s Vase success at the same Berkshire track in the summer, his sole defeat came as favourite in the mile-and-a-half Grand Prix de Paris at ParisLongchamp.

“He’s done nothing wrong, even when he got beat in the Grand Prix de Paris,” said Varian.

“I thought that was a perfectly fine run, just the test was a bit sharp for him.”

Eldar Eldarov will face seven rivals and David Egan’s mount shoulders 9lb less than all bar one of them and with the lack of significant rain, his chances look good.

Varian added: “He gets his weight-for-age allowance and has no Group One penalty in a Group Two race, which is a Group One in all bar name. It doesn’t look like it’s going to get too testing, but I think he’ll be all right on any ground. He’s ticked every box since running in the St Leger and we are very pleased with him.”

The lack of rain does not play to the strengths of main market rival Trueshan, who missed several engagements this summer owing to quicker ground. However, trainer Alan King is satisfied that the six-year-old will take his chance as he bids to follow up last year’s victory in the race.

“It should be fine,” said King. “They had 4-5mm Wednesday night so it’s good to soft, soft (in places), and that should be fine for him. I don’t see it drying out much.”

Having scored twice this year – at Nottingham on his season return and following up in the Northumberland Plate under a hefty 10st 8lb – he was beaten a length and a half by Ascot Gold Cup winner Kyprios in the Goodwood Cup and then saw Coltrane, who reopposes, a neck too good in the Doncaster Cup.

“I think he was still remembering Goodwood a little bit when he ran at Doncaster,” said King.

“He was pretty sore after Doncaster. He’s had a good break and he’s done quite a lot of work on the water treadmill, which he absolutely loves. Hopefully that has loosened him up well. We’re happy with him at this end.”

Waterville was considered a Derby prospect earlier this season, but things did not quite progress to plan until he stepped up in trip.

Aidan O’Brien’s promising colt has improved markedly in recent months and came from last to first with a scything run to land the Irish Cesarewitch a fortnight ago. Like Eldar Eldarov, he receives 9lb from his rivals, as he tackles Pattern company for the first time.

“He’s in good form. Obviously, it’s only a couple of weeks since he ran,” said O’Brien.

“He’s up in company, but we’re looking forward to seeing him run. He’s coming on and we think the other race brought him on again. I don’t think the ground matters with him. He’s a very good mover and I don’t think easy ground will bother him.

“It is a step up in class, but we know he gets the trip well.”

Coltrane appreciated the step up to two-and-a-quarter miles in the Doncaster Cup. He drops back in trip this time, with trainer Andrew Balding hoping the test will still be stiff enough for him.

“He has had a long and very successful season,” said the Kingsclere handler. “It is always a bit of chance going into it so late in the year when he started so early, but he seems in great form at home and obviously his last performance was his best performance, so we are looking forward to it.

“It is going to be a tough race, but the horse is well. We are dropping back a couple of furlongs and I don’t know if that is going to suit or not, but it is going to be run at a good gallop and it will be a fair test, I would imagine.”

Hughie Morrison has decided to take a chance with Lonsdale Cup winner Quickthorn, whose bid for a four-timer came to a halt when fourth in the Prix du Cadran, while Frankie Dettori teams up again with the John and Thady Gosden-trained Trawlerman, winner of the Ebor Handicap.

Though rated an outsider by the bookmakers, the Godolphin-owned four-year-old bids for a hat-trick, stepping into Group Two company and up to two miles for the first time.

“He has progressed well through the year,” said Thady Gosden. “I don’t expect the two miles to be an issue for him.

“He’s a horse that stays very well and he also won’t mind the ground on the slower side as it is. He is stepping up in grade against some tough, classy stayers so we will have to see how he performs against them."

Frankie Dettori laps up the York applause on Trawlerman

Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored by QIPCO)

No trainer has a better record in valuable handicaps at up to a mile than David O’Meara, who this year has his 2019 Balmoral Handicap winner Escobar heading a team with real strength and depth in what could be a six-horse assault on the £200,000 prize, which has a maximum field of 20 plus three reserves.

Escobar is making his fifth successive appearance on QIPCO British Champions Day card, having also been second in the 2018 Balmoral, down the field in the 2020 QEII, and sixth here a year ago. O’Meara has him in top form, but the penalty for his win here 12 days ago leaves him on a career high mark and his stable-mate Blue For You is currently preferred in the betting.

O’Meara, who also won the 2017 Balmoral with subsequent Group 1 winner Lord Glitters, said: “Escobar has a 6lb penalty for his win over seven furlongs in the Challenge at Ascot last time and that puts him on 113, which in theory is 2lb wrong. It feels like a mammoth task in a race like the Balmoral but he loves the track, he seems to like this time of the year and he’ll go on the ground.

“Blue For You got a bit lit up last time in the Challenge and he was short of room late on. He’d have been a good bit closer with a clear run and hopefully he can go down there and get a good run and see out the stiff mile on softish ground. I think he will.

“Orbaan has had a good season, but while he won on soft going at York two years ago I do feel he’s been better this summer on better ground so he probably wouldn’t want it too soft. Shelir ran in the Challenge too last time and he was a bit chewy on the front end. He needs to settle better and get more cover to give himself a chance.

“The doubt about Rhoscolyn would be whether he’d truly see out the stiff mile on the ground, but he was a very strong finisher in the Buckingham Palace and he has the ability to run a big race. Bopedro (third reserve) disappointed me at York last time when I thought he’d run well. He’s got the capability but I don’t really know what the key to him is. It wouldn’t surprise me if he were to show up a bit better here as he ran well earlier in the year.”

John and Thady Gosden will be represented by Magical Morning, last year’s third, who will be ridden by champion apprentice-elect Benoit de la Sayette.

“He ran in the race last year, he has tried stepping up into Listed company and he’s rated 105 now” said Thady Gosden. “He’s back in a handicap but you need plenty of luck in running.”

William Haggas won last year’s Balmoral Handicap with Aldaary and this year’s team includes Baaeed’s near-white lead horse Montatham. He is joined by Epsom Group 3 winner Bashkirova and Sandown Listed second Sweet Believer, with the progressive Montassib second of three reserves.

Former Queen Anne Stakes winner Accidental Agent and multiple Group-race winners Safe Voyage and Stormy Antarctic are among other distinguished runners. Atrium, who was disputing favouritism, just missed the cut.

David Menuisier: “Migration picked up a little injury after his excellent run in the Spring Cup, where we were delighted with him but felt that he could maybe have done with a bit more cut in the ground. We know he can run well fresh, so the plan is to run and the plan is to run well. William (Buick) knows the horse and they get on well.”

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