'Any further rain would help' - Beckett could run Kinross in Champions Sprint

Ralph Beckett could run his star senior performer Kinross in Saturday's Group 1 Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot in view of forecast rain at the track on Thursday.

The son of Kingman will attempt to improve on his ninth behind this weekend's market leader Creative Force in the six-furlong sprint a year ago when he was done no favours during the race, nor by the draw.

Kinross could not be in a better run of form for a return to Champions Day having racked up a hat-trick, including a victory in Group 1 company for the first time in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp on Arc day.

Beckett, who was among the early purchasers at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Sales on Wednesday morning when buying a Bated Breath filly for 26,000 guineas, said: "I'm minded to run Kinross at Ascot on Saturday but a definite decision will be made in the morning.

"Looking at the forecast, any further rain would help him and soft ground is more important to him over six furlongs than it is over seven furlongs or a mile.

"The plan is to run Kinross at the Breeders' Cup as well, which will be a first for him and hopefully the track will suit him."

Kinross, who is 6-1 joint third favourite with bet365 for Saturday's race, would be an addition to Frankie Dettori's book of rides on Champions Day, which includes odds-on favourite Inspiral in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn in the Fillies & Mares Stakes.

bet365: 5-2 Creative Force, 4-1 Rohaan, 6 Kinross, Art Power, 7 Naval Crown, 8 Perfect Power, 10 Tenebrism, 14 Brad The Brief, 20 bar

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