Punters back Addeybb as prospect of heavy-ground Champions Day grows

Addeybb has been supported into 7-2 (from 5-1) with Betfair Sportsbook for Saturday's Qipco Champion Stakes after punters latched on to the soft-ground specialist with bad weather continuing to pummel an already rain-hit Ascot.

The William Haggas-trained five-year-old won the Wolferton Stakes on Ascot's currently waterlogged outer course on soft ground in June, with his most recent success coming in a heavy-ground running of the Group 3 Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock in August.

Two-time Stayers' Million winner Stradivarius remains the short-priced favourite for the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup but was eased out to 8-11 (from 1-2) by Betfair and Paddy Power, with Mekong, twice a winner on heavy ground, backed into 12-1 (from 20) with the same firms.

In the same race the Roger Charlton-trained Withhold has also seen consistent support, with William Hill clipping last month's Rose Bowl Stakes winner into 7-1 (from 10).

Betfair spokesman Barry Orr said: "With ground conditions currently being described between desperate and unraceable it's no surprise that horses who have a preference for plenty of give underfoot are attracting significant support.

"Chief among those is Addeybb, who has been backed from 5-1 to 7-2 and even at this stage looks certain to go off favourite in the Champion Stakes."

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Japan, fourth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe when last seen, is joint-favourite with Betfair for the 1m2f Group 1, with stablemate Magical available at 5-1.

One Master won the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp over seven furlongs on Arc day and has been backed into 5-1 (from 6) for the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes which opens the card.

Elsewhere, the market for the Group 1 Fillies & Mares Stakes is still headed by the John Gosden-trained Star Catcher, with the Irish Oaks winner holding steady at around 15-8 generally.

However, there has been money against the favourite with Waverley Racing's Antonia De Vega proving especially popular with punters and now a 10-1 shot (from 20) with William Hill.

On Sunday, Ascot clerk of the course Chris Stickels described the conditions at the track as "the softest and wettest I've ever known them", and rain looks set to continue to hit the Berkshire course as it prepares for Britain's richest Flat card, worth £4.2 million, on Saturday.

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