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British Champions Day

Singing in the rain: Arc hero Boudot relishing the chance to shine at Ascot

The Revenant and Pierre-Charles Boudot finish clear in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein at Longchamp
The Revenant and Pierre-Charles Boudot finish clear in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein at LongchampCredit: Edward Whitaker

Ascot-loving Pierre-Charles Boudot is dreaming of more autumn glory 13 days after his landmark Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe success on Waldgeist, with this week's rain heightening his chances.

The jockey is reunited with two of his big-race winners from a memorable weekend at Longchamp in The Revenant and One Master, on a Qipco British Champions Day which he describes as "one of the three best meetings of the year".

He also has a first ride for Aidan O'Brien outside France when teaming up with Pink Dogwood in the Champion Fillies & Mares Stakes.

And the 26-year-old believes the anticipated testing ground means he has every chance of adding to his haul at Ascot, a track where he has already twice shone at the royal meeting.

"It's great to be back aboard One Master and The Revenant, especially because they are both horses who really appreciate deep going of the type we are going to get at Ascot on Saturday," said Boudot, who rode six winners across Arc weekend, rounded off by the success of Waldgeist in Europe's richest race.

One Master completed back-to-back victories in the Prix de la Foret over seven furlongs at Longchamp and Boudot believes that effort is unlikely to have taken too much out of her, as trainer William Haggas drops her back to a stiff six furlongs for the Champions Sprint.

"One Master had a pretty easy race in the Foret, winning with a bit to spare," said Boudot. "I angled her out at the 300-metre mark and she picked up well without having a hard time of it. I see both her and The Revenant as horses coming here at the top of their form."

One Master did not have the pace to match Advertise over six and a half furlongs on a flat track in the Prix Maurice de Gheest in August but Boudot expects conditions to be much more in her favour this time.

"I wasn't surprised that One Master was able to cope with very soft going the other day because it rode like soft ground in the Foret last year," said Boudot. "She is really helped by some give and the ground was quick at Deauville, where she still ran very well, not finishing far behind Advertise. He will be favourite here and I hope that softer ground could help us turn it around with him."

Pierre-Charles Boudot celebrates victory aboard One Master in the Prix de la Foret
Pierre-Charles Boudot celebrates victory aboard One Master in the Prix de la ForetCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Revenant, general 5-2 favourite for the QEII, is France's sole representative on Champions Day and Boudot will be hoping to go one better than when finishing runner-up in the 2017 Fillies & Mares aboard Bateel for the same owner and trainer combination of Al Asayl and Francis Graffard.

Unbeaten in four starts this season, The Revenant will be facing Group 1 company for the first time but arrives at Ascot off the back of an impressive comeback in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein.

"At Longchamp The Revenant was running back after a long break over the summer and he is still a fresh horse," said Boudot. "He is an easy horse to ride and the straight mile won't pose any problem to him. It's a big field and he's drawn towards the middle, with stall ten an advantage since, for me, most of the good horses are drawn out wide."

Watch Me go: Pierre-Charles Boudot and Watch Me rout their rivals in the Coronation Stakes at Ascot in June
Watch Me go: Pierre-Charles Boudot and Watch Me rout their rivals in the Coronation Stakes at Ascot in JuneCredit: Edward Whitaker

Boudot is no stranger to success for Coolmore, riding many of the horses the partners have in training with his boss, Andre Fabre.

But it was still a career first to get the leg up from O'Brien aboard South Sea Pearl in the Prix de Royallieu at Longchamp this month and, with Ryan Moore on duty in Australia, Boudot once again gets the call, this time aboard Pink Dogwood.

The jockey said: "I'm lucky to be able to be able to be associated with the yard again in a big race.

"Champions Day along with Royal Ascot and Arc weekend are without doubt the three best meetings of the year and a winner on Saturday would be great – I'll certainly be going all out to make it happen."


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Scott BurtonFrance correspondent

Published on 17 October 2019inBritish Champions Day

Last updated 07:00, 18 October 2019

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