2021 Qipco British Champions Day tips: why these horses can win at Ascot

Qipco British Champions Day promises to be a star-studded occasion with top-class challengers from across Europe featuring on a card with four Group 1s.Our experts highlight who they think will come out on top at Ascot on Saturday.

Ascot Saturday: Champions Day card and betting

Qipco British Champions Sprint (2.00), 4-1

With Starman having been retired, the Champions Sprint is lacking a superstar and it provides Art Power with an excellent chance of making his Group 1 breakthrough.

Art Power: winner of the Group 3 Renaissance Stakes last timeCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

He loves the track and did best of the three-year-olds in the race on desperate ground last year. That isn't going to be the case this time and Art Power comes into the contest at the top of his game having won a Group 3 in Ireland by five lengths last month on good ground.

Furthermore, he was ridden with more restraint that day and if Silvestre de Sousa holds on to him for longer he will be hard to beat.
Tom Segal, Pricewise

Balmoral Handicap (4.30), 20-1

A dry forecast suggests the ground will be good or good to soft, which will play to the strengths of Brunch and mitigate against some of his major rivals who need it bottomless.

Seventh in the Royal Hunt Cup in June, Brunch was probably inconvenienced by the quick surface that day. He’s won a Listed race since, yet he can compete off the same mark.
Richard Birch, tipster

Balmoral Handicap (4.30), 10-1

Nugget is unlucky not to be coming here on a four-timer because he would have won the Thirsk Hunt Cup two starts ago had he been ridden closer to the pace. Nugget put that defeat firmly behind him when winning on his return from more than four months off the track at Haydock three weeks ago and he won in spite of needing the run.

Nugget: could be partnered by Ryan Moore in the Balmoral HandicapCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

He travelled like the best horse in the race but fell in a hole near the line and only just held off the fast-finishing Afaak. The upside is he has gone up only 3lb in the weights and Richard Hannon must be expecting a big run because he has already provisionally booked Ryan Moore to ride.
Graeme Rodway, tipster

Qipco British Champions Sprint (2.00), 9-2

With a limited Irish challenge heading to Ascot, I'll give the nod to Rohaan, who caught the eye on his first start over five furlongs when fifth in the Group 1 Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh last month.

Rohaan (black and orange): winner of the Wokingham at Royal AscotCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The form of the Flying Five was given a boost after A Case Of You, who finished second, won the Prix de l'Abbaye this month.

Rohaan is obviously copes with the ground and is suited by this course and distance having landed the Wokingham on soft this season. It's hard to see him finishing out of the frame.
Brian Sheerin, reporter

Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (1.25), 4-1 with Sky Bet

Can you imagine? This is not soft-heartedness speaking, I have spent years losing money on the premise Stradivarius's profile belies his level of ability. It just looks as though he might have been written off a little too soon.

There is no question Trueshan is top dog in the staying division now, but that is only when he meets his conditions. He was able to unfurl at Longchamp, whereas at Ascot the tight final bend can set up better for pouncers.

A dry forecast is in Stradivarius's favour too, relatively speaking. He is not the force of old, but the 119/120 level he has shown this year would make him better than a 4-1 chance given the way this race promises to shape up.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

Balmoral Handicap (4.30), 100-30 generally

It's boring and he's already favourite but Sunray Major is surely capable of defying a mark of 101 in the Balmoral Handicap. He looks every inch a Group horse to me. The way he travelled through his most recent win over course and distance was very easy on the eye and, while he is officially only 1lb well in, he should be hard to beat.
David Jennings, deputy Ireland editor

Read more on Champions Day:

Baaeed has nothing to fear from Palace Pier and co in QEII cracker says Crowley (Members' Club)

Champions Day: big guns on course for Ascot but Poetic Flare out of QEII

Starman retired after setback rules him out of Champions Sprint

New 888 customers can get £40 in free bets when they place a £10 bet. £10 deposit using promo code "RACING". The first bet must be placed on horseracing. Minimum stake £10 at odds of 1/2 (1.5). Free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after seven days. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time. General deposit method and withdrawal restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. Click here to claim the offer