2024 Champion Stakes: assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the big three - and are there dangers elsewhere?

The Flat season reaches a crescendo this Saturday as British Champions Day takes centre stage at Ascot. The feature race, the Qipco Champion Stakes (3.55), sees Economics, one of the most exciting horses in training, bid to finish the campaign unbeaten. He won't have it all his own way though, as there's a strong challenge from France and Ireland. Here, we analyse the main contenders . . .

Economics

Form: 4-1111

What has he done so far? Economics has been one of the most talked about horses of the season, having grabbed the headlines with his breathtaking six-length romp in the Dante in May. We were kept waiting to see him again, with connections opting not to go for the Derby at Epsom, but he didn't disappoint on his return, keeping on strongly to land the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville in August. He was sent off favourite for last month's Irish Champion Stakes on the back of that and displayed the utmost determination to deny last year's dual Derby winner Auguste Rodin, with the reopposing Los Angeles back in fourth.

Economics (far side) fends off Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion StakesCredit: Caroline Norris

Does he have any weaknesses? The Night Of Thunder colt has done all of his improving since tackling better ground, with his only defeat in five starts coming on his sole encounter with heavy, albeit that was on his debut.

What they say

William Haggas, trainer: "Economics is a good horse and I wouldn't worry about the form in Ireland. It was a very tough race and he's needed every week to come to his best for Saturday. Ricky [Hall] rides him every day and is very happy with him. His work last week was very nice but nothing strenuous – just enough to keep on top of him. He's ready to go. He has won on fast ground this year and we'll see whether he copes with this easier surface. I think he'll be okay because I think he's very versatile. It will be top on the list of excuses if it all goes wrong I suppose!” 

Odds: 5-4f

Economics15:55 Ascot

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Jky: Tom Marquand Tnr: William Haggas

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Calandagan

Form: -21112

What has he done so far? Calandagan has been a big improver this season, winning three of his last four starts and posting a better Racing Post Rating with each run. He emphatically backed up a pair of Group 3 wins in the mud at Longchamp when storming six lengths clear in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot – showing his versatility with regards the ground – before going down by just a length to City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International, a run that can be marked up as he was the only one to make any significant inroads from the back.

Calandagan (right) chased home City Of Troy in the Juddmonte InternationalCredit: Edward Whitaker

Does he have any weaknesses: A serial hold-up horse, he will need a significant pace to aim at and will require things to unfold better than they did at York on his last start. 

What they say

Nemone Routh, racing manager: "He’s proved he’s competitive at Group 1 level over a mile and a quarter. That was a good run at York as he was the only horse to come from off the pace. To come from off the pace and quicken the way he did was very encouraging. Francis has been very happy with him since York and felt that he took that much better than the race at Ascot. We have no concerns when it comes to the ground. He’s a very clean-actioned horse. It was really heavy for his first run this season and he got through it, and he quickened. And he obviously suits the Ascot track."

Odds: 7-4

Calandagan15:55 Ascot

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Jky: Tnr: F-H Graffard

Los Angeles

Form: 131143

What has he done? A Group 1 winner as a juvenile, Los Angeles has been kept busy since finishing third behind stablemate City Of Troy in the Derby at Epsom and continues to prove himself a rock-solid performer in top-level contests. Winner of the Irish Derby and the Great Voltigeur, the three-year-old followed a close fourth in the Irish Champion Stakes with a fine third in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe recently, having tried to make all under Ryan Moore. A relentless galloper, it wouldn't be a surprise to see a repeat of those tactics here.

Los Angeles (far side) finished third in the Arc behind BluestockingCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Does he have any weaknesses? He's a strong stayer over a mile and a half and has shaped as if he would stay even further, so might find this trip on the sharp side just as he did when one and a quarter lengths behind Economics in the Irish Champion Stakes.

What they say

Aidan O'Brien, trainer: "Los Angeles could run in the Champion Stakes. He seems to be in good form since the Arc and it's definitely possible he could run on Saturday. He's held his form together all season and run well in some very big races." 

Odds: 7-1

Los Angeles15:55 Ascot

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Jky: Tnr: A P O'Brien

Who are the biggest dangers to the top three?

According to the market, the Jean-Paul Gauvin-trained Iresine is the most serious threat. A dual Group 1 winner, the seven-year-old has won 15 of his 23 career starts and arrives on the back of Group 2 success in the Prix Foy. He has won over as far as 1m7½f and may find the trip too short, but he landed the Prix Ganay last year over a similar distance and will be suited by heavy ground, albeit he'd be the oldest winner of the race in more than 100 years.

King's Gambit doesn't have as many 1s next to his name as you would hope, but the impressive London Gold Cup winner has form that stacks up well in this company. He would have won the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot with more luck, just failing to reel in Jayarebe who chased home Economics at Deauville, while his half-length defeats to Alflaila and Los Angeles read positively. He ran well on soft ground as a juvenile and the booking of Oisin Murphy is eyecatching.

Anmaat could be the forgotten horse in the market. He needs to bounce back from a disappointing effort last time, but he had been off the track for 439 days after his Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan success and may be taking time to come good. The form of his Group 3 win in August has been franked by the runner-up and he has shown promise on soft ground. 

Verdict

Economics is a hugely exciting animal and has the form in the book to win this, but the ground has to be a major worry. Preference is for CALANDAGAN, who did so well to get to within a length of City Of Troy in the Juddmonte, is proven in heavy ground and was impressive on his last start at Ascot.

Calandagan15:55 Ascot

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Jky: Tnr: F-H Graffard

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Read more:

William Haggas: Economics has needed every week since Ireland to come to his best for Saturday - he's ready to go now 

James Fanshawe targeting third Champions Sprint success with close relative of previous two winners 

Los Angeles could take on Economics and Calandagan in red-hot Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday 

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