THE rain won’t dampen a brilliant afternoon of racing at QIPCO British Champions Day.
There are six brilliant races to enjoy at Ascot as the curtain comes down on another memorable Flat season.
Advertise had HELLO YOUMZAIN’S measure when the pair met in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.
But Kevin Ryan’s strapping three-year-old has been expertly handled this year and, on the evidence of his dominant victory in the Sprint Cup last time, he is on a sharp upward curve.
Soft ground is no issue and he is fancied to turn the tables on Martyn Meade’s charge, who still commands the utmost respect under Frankie Dettori.
Irish challenger Make A Challenge has improved leaps and bounds this year and was supplemented for this race following an easy win at the Curragh.
This requires another step forward, though, and he is coming up against proven Group 1 performers.
The drop back to this stiff 6f could suit mud-lover One Master, who ran out of steam close home when an excellent third in the Queen Anne here back in June.
The dual Foret winner will need a strong pace if her stamina is to come into play, but they should go a decent enough clip.
The Tin Man loves it here showed there was still life in his old legs when second to the selection. He makes each-way appeal.
Sands Of Mali won this last year but hasn’t been in the same form since, while Dream Of Dreams will be happier back at this track following a pair of no-shows at Newmarket and Haydock. He could sneak under the radar
STRADIVARIUS has been unstoppable over the past two seasons.
John Gosden’s star stayer will be much happier on the inner course, with the ground set to ride a good deal better than the main course.
He has proven himself the best two-miler around and it is hard to envisage him getting turned over here.
Kew Gardens has had a disappointing campaign this year, but he at least poses a new threat to the odds-on jolly.
He is the obvious danger if improving for the step up in distance.
Royal Line loves soft ground and he could figure in the finish if lasting home on his first try at this trip.
Withhold steps up in class after a wide-margin success in Listed company at Newmarket, and he could be dangerous if allowed an easy lead.
Irish Oaks winner Star Catcher has done nothing but improve this season, but she was rather gifted an easy lead when landing the Prix Vermeille last month.
Her stable companion and Oaks heroine Anapurna had no chance from a poor position when seventh in that race, and she has advertised her well-being since then with a Group 1 victory over 1m6f in France.
She should close the gap on her stablemate, but one who makes appeal at bigger odds is ANTONIA DE VEGA.
Trainer Ralph Beckett has his string in red-hot form at present and this daughter of Lope De Vega will relish the step up to 1m4f.
She has been off since destroying a good field in a Listed race at Newbury in June, so she arrives nice and fresh, and she remains open to significant progress on ground she will love.
Irish raiders Tarnawa and Fleeting command a good deal of respect, particularly the latter given that Aidan O’Brien is chasing a third straight win in this race.
There has been floods of money for The Revenant this week with the French raider set to get the testing ground he craves.
He wears a hood for the first time and has an excellent chance to follow in the footsteps of recent winners Solow and Charm Spirit in taking this race back across the Channel.
But narrow preference is for MAGNA GRECIA, the 2000 Guineas hero who has been off since a disappointing run in the Irish equivalent.
He won the Futurity Trophy on easy ground, he goes well fresh and Aidan O’Brien is the master at getting his horses to peak for big autumn targets.
Queen Anne winner Lord Glitters saves his best form for this venue so he isn’t passed over lightly.
First-time cheek pieces need to wake King Of Comedy up after he was thrashed by Benbatl in the Joel Stakes.
Benbatl himself would have a big chance if the ground were quicker but he is 0-3 on ground slower than good.
At a price, King Of Change is one to keep an eye on. If he handles this slower ground, he could well ruffle a few feathers.
One who will thrive in conditions is Century Dream, who wouldn’t be out of this if back to his best.
Not a vintage renewal of this race and the switch to the slightly quicker inner track will be a big help to the class horse in the race, MAGICAL.
She has had a busy old season and a slog on heavy ground wouldn’t have been ideal. However, she will be happier on this surface and has by far the best form.
Connections of Addeybb would have been disappointed about the switch of course. He will need the heavens to open if he is to beat an on-form Magical.
Coronet is a likeable filly and if the selection were to under perform she would have a squeak.
But the biggest threat is Deirdre, who would have finished closer to Magical in the Irish Champion Stakes had she not been denied a clear run in the straight.
She could do with the ground drying out further, but she is clearly a mare with a big engine and champion jockey Oisin Murphy does the steering.
CLON COULIS (NAP) can make up for the agony of a nose defeat in the Royal Hunt Cup over this C&D earlier in the season.
She was given a lovely waiting ride by Jamie Spencer at this venue in June but she failed by the width of a fag paper to overhaul Afaak.
She has slipped back to the same mark she raced off at the Royal meeting, she loves soft ground and she should get the strong gallop she needs. Stall one isn’t ideal but she will be dropped out last anyway.
Kick On is the biggest threat, with John Gosden’s colt dropping down in class having won a Group 3 at Salisbury in August.
He remains open to progress and makes greater appeal than Lord North, who has been bumped up 12lb for his Cambridgeshire win and faces much slower conditions now.
Kynren finally got his head back in front when winning the Challenge Cup here a fortnight ago and he should be in the mix again.
Dunkirk Harbour and Commander Cole enter calculations for each-way purposes.
