Saturday 17th October 2026
1.30 Ascot – (Long Distance Cup) (G1) (2m)
Caballo De Mar sets the standard here on the back of his Group 1 success in the Prix du Cadran last time out, beating champion stayer Scandinavia in the process. If he’s in that form again, he’ll be tough to beat; however, that race was only a couple of weeks ago, and his long campaign could take its toll.
The John & Thady Gosden-trained GREGORY comes here significantly fresher, with just the two runs to his name this campaign, with his most recent outing being an impressive eleven-length success in Listed company at Newmarket last month. He’s had a gelding & wind operation before returning to the track with two victories to his name, looking better than ever, and he could be the one to be on here.
St Leger winner Highwayman can’t be discounted for Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle; he’s shown rapid progression this term, and it remains to be seen where his ceiling could actually be. Aidan O’Brien sends Queenstown to take his chance under Ryan Moore; he’s another who’s had a progressive campaign and has placed in Group 1 company in his last two outings.
Selection: Gregory – (4/1) (Each-Way) (NAP)
2.40 Ascot – (British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes) (G1) (1m 4f)
Andrew Balding’s star mare Kalpana has won the last two runnings of this race, and she’s looked as good as ever this season when winning the King George, before a solid fifth in the Arc last time out. If she’s anywhere near her best, she should win this; however, she could be coming into the race weary after a busy campaign.
The unexposed and progressive LILT could pick up the pieces if the favourite fluffs her lines here, and she’s Tom Marquand’s mount. She ran down the smart So Regal in Listed company at York back in May, and made her return to the track when hitting the line hard at the Curragh last month in the Group 2 Blandford Stakes behind Thundering On. She steps up further in distance here, which is highly likely to suit, and there could be significant improvement from her. Any rain would also be no issue for her.
Minnie Hauk has been disappointing this season and is likely up against it again here following a long campaign; however, you couldn’t completely rule her out if she rediscovers anywhere near her best form. Johanna Walsh certainly enters the equation on the back of her Irish Oaks victory, and the same can be said for Sparan Nua if she runs to the level of her shoulder-second to Kalpana in the Yorkshire Oaks. Johnny Murtagh’s Believed has been progressing nicely, winning a Group 3 last time out, and could outrun a likely big price under Oisin Murphy.
Selection: Lilt – (7/1) (Each-Way)
(4 places)
3.20 Ascot – (Queen Elizabeth II Stakes) (G1) (1m)
Godolphin and Ballydoyle currently battle it out at the top of the betting here with Talk of New York and Gstaad, of which whom both hold very solid claims. The Charlie Appleby charge was very impressive at Newmarket last time out when winning the Joel Stakes by just shy of five lengths, whereas Aidan O’Brien’s Starspangledbanner gelding has a string of big runs in defeat within Group 1 company this year, mainly behind superstar Bow Echo.
Eve Johnson Houghton’s ZAVATERI was a highly progressive two-year-old last year, winning four on the spin, which included back-to-back Group 2 victories before culminating with Group 1 success in the National Stakes at the Curragh, beating Gstaad in the process. He ran with credit in successive Group 1s in the summer, finishing fifth in both the Sussex Stakes and the City Of York Stakes, before posting a dominant success when having his sights slightly lowered in the Group 2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood last time out. He beat Qirat by three and a half lengths that day, who acts well around Goodwood, and he could just be peaking at the right time here. He also hasn’t had a particularly gruelling campaign.
French-raider Rayif has already won two Group 1s this term, including the Jacques Le Marois last time out, and is certainly feared here for the all-conquering Francis-Henri Graffard yard. It would also be foolish to discount More Thunder for William Haggas; he bounced back to form when winning the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster last time, and could still have more to offer.
Selection: Zavateri – (17/2) (Each-Way)
4.00 Ascot – (Champion Stakes) (G1) (1m 2f)
Calandagan won this race last year, and whilst he hasn’t quite been at his peak form this year, he’s still a very big player at the top of the betting for Francis Henri-Graffard and Christophe Soumillon, and is a danger to all if he’s back to his brilliant best. John & Thady Gosden will be hoping that Ombudsman can also bounce back to the form of his four-length win here in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes in June, following a below-par run in the Juddmonte last time out. He’s at his best on quick ground, so he won’t want much rain; however, he’s possibly the best miler around when conditions are in his favour.
It would be no surprise to see either of the top two in the betting win; however, given that there are a few question marks hanging over both of them, it could be worth taking a chance on ALMAQAM for Ed Walker and Kieran Shoemark. He finished ahead of Ombudsman when he posted an excellent effort at York, finishing just a head second behind Item in the Juddmonte International, and ran with credit last time out when a couple of lengths behind Hotazhell in the Irish Champion Stakes. He also beat the re-opposing Bay City Roller by two lengths in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May, and despite there only being two places on offer, he could represent some value if the big two don’t fire.
Bay City Roller has had a fantastic campaign for George Scott, the highlight being a ten-length success in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom in June, beating Jan Brueghel by ten lengths with Calandagan way behind. Most recently, he ran another stormer when second behind Daryz in the Arc, which makes him an obvious player here. That run only came a couple of weeks ago, though, so you’d be taking a chance on whether he’s fully over it. Eclipse winner Constitution River has been slightly disappointing in his last two outings when well-fancied against his elders at York and Leopardstown; however, he still has significant potential and gets the age allowance once again here.
Selection: Almaqam – (15/2) (Each-Way)
