Horse Racing Betting Tips: Coronet to crown Gosden in perfect style with victory in the Champion
THEY say it’s not over until the fat lady sings, but surely it is impossible for Aidan O’Brien to win his eighth British trainers’ championship.
John Gosden, seeking a second consecutive title, has had a remarkable season and, with a lead of over £700,000, it would require the Ballydoyle horses to win practically everything on QIPCO British Champions Day with all the Clarehaven runners disappointing.
That just isn’t going to happen and Gosden will have eyes on the biggest prize of all, the QIPCO Champion Stakes (4.00pm), a race he has won for the past two years with Cracksman.
He saddles two fillies in his bid for a hat-trick and CORONET looks easily his best chance with Frankie Dettori opting to ride her over Mehdaayih.
The daughter of Dubawi had been banging her head against the Group One wall for a couple of years, but she has now landed two top-level races in her last two outings.
She finally got the monkey off her back in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in June and then followed up in the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville in August.
Her Ascot form figures read 1332, but interestingly she has been ridden in all four of those starts by Olivier Peslier and Dettori gets the leg up tomorrow.
No jockey rides this course better than the Italian and you can expect him to have her positioned close to the front to try to make it a true stamina test.
I also like the fact she has had a light season so arrives here as a fresh horse, and she looks a strong each-way bet at 5/1.
Magical is the main danger as she beat Coronet in the Fillies and Mares Stakes 12 months ago and won the Irish Champion Stakes last month.
However, she had a tough race in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and there has to be a worry that will have left a mark.
She is a very good horse, and the one they all have to beat, but I’m happy to leave her alone at 9/4.
Addeybb wants the ground to be bottomless, so the move from the round to the inner course isn’t ideal for William Haggas’ runner.
He has also come up short twice in Group One company before and is too skinny a price at 3/1.
Haggas could be celebrating after the opening race, though, as I am keen on his ONE MASTER in the Champions Sprint (1.35pm).
The ground is going to be hugely testing on the straight course, which is going to put reliance on stamina, and she is a seven furlong specialist.
Her record on soft or heavy ground is outstanding and she looks another solid each-way bet at 6/1 with Ladbrokes.
Advertise and Hello Youmzain are the main dangers, but the former needs to prove he can handle conditions, while the latter is going to have to improve again to win this.
Gosden also holds a very strong hand in the Champion Fillies & Mares Stakes with both Star Catcher and Anapurna.
These two fillies have some decent form, but they are short enough in the betting and I’m keen on the chances of TARNAWA at 8/1 with Coral.
Dermot Weld has a fantastic record at this meeting and his daughter of Shamardal was very impressive in the Blandford Stakes last time.
POINTERS SATURDAY
One Master e/w 1.35pm Ascot
Tarnawa e/w 2.45pm Ascot
Coronet e/w 4.00pm Ascot