A stacked six-race card awaits on Britain’s richest race day this Saturday as the flat season reaches its crescendo at QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot.
The feature race, the QIPCO Champion Stakes (3.55 pm), sees Economics bid to finish the campaign unbeaten and live up to his reputation as the hottest colt in training.
The ever impressive Tom Marquand will be onboard who will be looking to end 2024 on a high and only boldens Economics’ chances.
One of the most talked-about horses of the season, Economics will look to follow up his six-length demolition in the Dante back in May, though some may question his form on softer ground.
Trainer William Haggas said: “He’s ready to go. He has won on fast ground this year, and we’ll see whether he copes with this easier surface.
“I think he’ll be okay because I think he’s very versatile. It’ll be top of the list of excuses if it all goes wrong, I suppose!”
He’ll face stiff competition from Calandagan, and it will be no surprise if the French invader is backed into favouritism.
Calandagan has proved to be a class act and, unlike Economics, will relish any softer ground, having twice won in bottomless conditions. His one-length second place to City of Troy in the Juddmonte International is impressive form, to say the least. However, he does have a tendency to get held up and will be hoping for a strong pace to aim at from the back.
While City of Troy prepares for his Breeders’ Cup conquest, Aidan O’Brien’s backup in Los Angeles is not to be underestimated.
An impressive third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe two weeks ago, and with an Irish Derby win to his name, Los Angeles will be looking to disrupt the two market leaders, with Ryan Moore on board.
Acknowledging his consistency across the season, O’Brien said: “He’s held his form together all season and run well in some very big races.”
Elsewhere in the market, there’s value to be found with Kings Gambit, who, although lacking many wins, has been a consistent performer at this level.
Jean-Paul Gauvin’s trained Iresine is also a noteworthy threat. A two-time Group One winner, the seven-year-old has triumphed in 15 of his 23 career starts and arrives on the back of Group Two success in the Prix Foy.
The pick of the action elsewhere comes in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (3.15 pm), where Charyn will bid to back up his impressive Queen Anne Stakes victory in his final run before retirement.
Never out of the first two in any of his four Group One races, he’s as consistent as they come, and it would be no surprise if he were to win again here.
Like Economics, Charyn might prefer better ground, and last year’s runner-up Factor Coeval wouldn’t mind a little more drizzle to rain on the favourite’s parade.
HJC Journalism 