QIPCO Champions Day

QIPCO CHAMPION STAKES (BRITISH CHAMPIONS MIDDLE DISTANCE) (GROUP 1) 1m2f

This may look like one of the toughest races to call on paper but I have the feeling that So You Think will show everyone how good he really is. He's beaten Workforce and Snow Fairy this year over this distance which seems to be his optimum and he thrives with racing as shown by his campaign in Australia. This will also mean that it would be his summer and I don''t think we have seen the best of him yet. He didn't have a hard race in the Arc where he was given an unworkable draw but came home well to go down in 4th, half a length behind Snow Fairy. Snow Fairy was 1/2 length behind So You Think  in the irish Champion Stakes and although closing at the line, I think SYT had more in the tank. Nathaniel won the King George VI stakes in good fashion at Ascot -the race in which the ill-fated Rewilding contested- beating the likes of Workforce and St. Nicholas Abbey. He was in receipt of 12lbs from the older horses that day whereas he receives only 5lbs tomorrow. I personally think he would prefer a longer trip to bring his stamina into play.
Snow Fairy has improved as the season has progressed but she does have a little to find with the favourite and has her old sparring partner in Midday to overcome. The latter named has run with great credit this year and although she handles the softr conditions, I think tomorrows trip and ground conditions will be perfect for her. She was beaten by her stablemate Twice Over last time out in the Juddmonte International where ground conditions may have gone slightly against her and she hung when taking the lead. I don't recall her having hung like that before so that is a slight concern for me. Cirrus Des Aigles has been running very well this year but would want softer ground. The Goldolphin pair Dubai Prince and Casamento are interesting. The former was transferred to the Goldophin yard by the owner after an unbeaten juvenile season. He met a setback at the start of the year and only returned to the track in a weak looking race last month. he is completely unexposed but he is too short based on known form. Casamento took the Racing Post trophy in his stride as a 2 year old but has had a relatively poor season. However a change of tactics looked to have worked for him last time out where he was held up off the back of the field and although very head strong he battled gamely to win. He looks a very tough ride and he tried to hang to his right the entire way down the straight last time out. Green Destiny was an obvious group horse in a handicap when hosing up at Newmarket at the start of the season and although he won two group 3s quite comfortably, this is a definite step up in class. Wigmore hall is a solid if unspectacular group horse. He beat Poets Voice in a group 2 in Meydan earlier this year and has followed that up with good runs in group one company culminating in a victory in a weak looking race at Woodbine last time out. Ransom note and Sri Putra would have to massively step up on anything they've shown so far.

Recommended bet: So You Think (NAP)