Rory Delargy

ASCOT SATURDAY

1.25 QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS LONG DISTANCE CUP (GROUP 2) 1M 7F 209Y

Order of St George is the star of the show, and while beaten by Big Orange in the Gold Cup, ought to have no trouble reversing form on this much softer ground, which is not in favour of the Michael Bell runner. Whether it is wise to pile into the Irish St Leger winner on the back of an excellent fourth in the Arc is debatable, however, with the French race almost certain to have left its mark to some degree.

If there is a bet in the race, it looks to be an each-way investment on Duretto, who goes well here, arrives fresher than most of his rivals, and has given the impression on numerous occasions that he would benefit from a crack at this trip, especially now that he has learnt to accept restraint and no longer needs a hood to keep him settled. He looked better than ever on his return from a break at Chester last time, and while he would have to find a stone to match an in-form Order of St George, he has little to find with the others and ought to give backers a good run for their money.

2.00 QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SPRINT STAKES (GROUP 1) 6F

Once again there is an outstanding performer in the shape of Harry Angel but there are again reasons to leave him alone at cramped odds, his failure to win here in three attempts chief amongst them. It wouldn’t do to get carried away by the favourite’s defeats here, of course, and he’s run very well on each occasion, but he’s looked mortal in Berkshire and unbeatable elsewhere and that must be considered.

Of more interest to me is the fact that the runners will be facing a partial headwind, and a significant one at that, which will surely count against those who face the teeth of the wind as Harry Angel is likely to and that factor alone makes me want to search elsewhere for a selection. Caravaggio is a horse I haven’t entirely warmed to, and I was happy to field against him in the July Cup due to the demands of that race, but if he’s going to win another Group 1 then it will be this one, where everything seems to be conspiring in his favour.

Aidan O’Brien’s colt has been hugely impressive in winning both starts here, beating Harry Angel in the Commonwealth Cup, and he seems to relish the stiff finish. A look back at his races shows that he often appears in trouble before unleashing a powerful finishing kick, as he did at the Curragh last time having looked to be going nowhere at halfway. He will get cover from the wind given his hold-up style, and the strong pace likely to be set by the favourite should provide him with a target to aim at in the last furlong. If the leaders are slowing due to the headwind, then that scenario will provide him a perfect opportunity to redeem his reputation fully.

2.40 QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS FILLIES & MARES STAKES (GROUP 1) 1M 3F 211Y

It’s hard to look beyond Prix Vermeille one-two Bateel and Journey here, and marginal preference is for the latter, who has the benefit of Frankie Dettori at a track he rides exceptionally well. Journey was beaten fairly comprehensively by Bateel at Chantilly, but tired noticeably late on while remaining clear of the others and she’s better than the bare result.

If Journey has a little to make up on Bateel from three weeks ago, the latter has much more to do based on the running of this race last year when she trailed the field in a race Journey won. The ground will be much softer 12 months on, and Bateel is an improved performer for her switch to France but Journey seems to come alive in the autumn and handled easy ground well when runner-up to Simple Verse in this race two years ago. She is not an easy conveyance, and seems to need Dettori’s guidance to show her true form, but she has shown no sign of deterioration as a five-year-old and can continue her fine record at this fixture.

3.15 QUEEN ELIZABETH II STAKES (GROUP 1) 1M

It must be assumed that Thunder Snow, wearing a visor for the first time, will press on from the outset, and that should be all the help Ribchester needs to cap a fantastic season. Richard Fahey’s charge ought to be unbeaten in 2017, with his defeat in the Sussex Stakes the result (in my view) of a rare tactical lapse on the part of William Buick. Ribchester doesn’t like to be in close proximity to other horses and the decision to set a modest pace and come to the stands rail meant that he was able to be intimidated into losing his pitch before flying home. Well though Here Comes When did to pick up the pieces that day, he has no realistic chance of confirming the form.

Churchill is a horse I have wanted to oppose since Goodwood, where he was a late absentee, and while he’s been running well, the strain of his long campaign began to show in the Irish Champion Stakes and it would be a tremendous feat if Aidan O’Brien could get him to peak again for this.

Beat The Bank has impressed at a lower level, but has been well found by punters since the first quotes about him were given out for this race, and he’s now looking overbet and Al Wukair might be the best alternative to the selection. The Jacques le Marois winner is quirky, and needs holding up, but those tactics, which were a disadvantage in the 2000 Guineas, could prove ideal at Ascot, and the son of Dream Ahead ought to be suited by the softest ground he’s raced on, for all Andre Fabre’s campaigning of him doesn’t suggest he’s a mudlark by any means. The fitting of cheekpieces is likely to help Gregory Benoit, too.

3.50 QIPCO CHAMPION STAKES (GROUP 1) 1M 1F 212Y

It’s tempting to oppose Cracksman given he’s arguably vulnerable dropped back to 10 furlongs, but the trip is also a negative for Highland Reel, and exacerbated rather than alleviated by the ground, which is surely too soft for him to show his best.

Barney Roy is much better than he showed in the International Stakes, but is another for whom conditions can’t be deemed a positive, and Poet’s Word was flattered by coming from well off the pace in the Irish Champion Stakes and looks woefully short in the betting, so opposition to the favourite is not as strong as it might appear.

Brametot is the one who is too big in the betting and the dual classic winner is the one who could give John Gosden’s star a fright. The favourite is plenty big enough at 2/1, and while it remains to be seen if he shortens up considerably on the day, I’m not keen to oppose him at that sort of price.

4.30 BALMORAL HANDICAP (1M)

The concluding handicap is an absolute minefield, with the vagaries of the draw and the lack of pace making it difficult to find an angle, while the effect of the wind is even more of a conundrum. Firmament ran a cracker in this last year when it turned into a sprint, and was unsuited by sitting closer than usual to the strong pace here last time, when the hold-up horses held sway. He’s been banging on the door all season, and deserves to win a big handicap, while the booking of James Doyle is an excellent one.

RECOMMENDED

CARAVAGGIO 2.00 Ascot – 2pts win @ 9/2 (general)

JOURNEY 2.40 Ascot – 1pt win @ 3/1 (general)

RIBCHESTER 3.15 Ascot – 2pts win @ 2/1 (general)

FIRMAMENT 4.30 Ascot – 1pt e/w @ 20/1 (Ladbrokes, Hills)

WINNER

Rory tipped the 10/1 winner Silver Streak at Chepstow last week