- More
Champion Stakes 2024: assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the big three at Ascot - 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 . . .
Bet £10 And Get £50 In Free Bets
- Champions Day 2024 Special
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.
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
Exclusive Sky Bet offer: get £50 in free bets
Bet £10 And Get £50 In Free Bets
- Champions Day 2024 Special
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.
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: 6-4
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.
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: 15-2
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.
Coral: 5-4 Economics, 6-4 Calandagan, 15-2 Los Angeles, 14 Iresine, 18 King's Gambit, 25 Anmaat, 40 Nashwa, See The Fire, 50 Continuous, Persica, Royal Rhyme, 80 Novus
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.
Exclusive Sky Bet offer: get £50 in free bets for Champions Day
Sky are offering new customers £50 in free bets when you place a £10 bet on horse racing.
You can follow these simple steps outlined below to grab £50 in free bets to place on the big races at Ascot on British Champions Day on Saturday. It's fast, secure and straightforward.
- Head over to Sky Bet today through this link and click the 'Get Bonus' button
- Sign up for a new account, and create your username and password
- Place a qualifying bet of minimum £10 at odds of 1/1 or greater
- Get £50 in free bets to use on horse racing
Exclusive Sky Bet sign-up offer: your key terms and conditions
It's worth taking a few minutes to read through the terms and conditions associated with the new player promotion before signing up with Sky Bet. Doing so will help you get a better grasp of the details of the Sky Bet's Champions Day betting offer and what's expected of you as a new player.
- New customers only
- First single and each-way bet only
- Odds of 1/1 or greater
- 5 x £10 bet tokens
- Free bet stakes not included in returns
- Free bets for horse racing only
- Free bets are non-withdrawable
- Free bets expire after 30 days
- Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply
- 18+, gambleaware.org
Read this next:
Champions Day trends: who will win the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Qipco Champion Stakes?
Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.
Commercial notice: This article contains affiliate links. Offers are handpicked and come from operators that our experts have first-hand experience of. Opening an account via one of these links will earn revenue for the Racing Post, which will be used to continue producing our award-winning coverage of horseracing.
Published on inBritish Champions Day
Last updated
Copy- 'It'll continue to thrive' - Rod Street says Champions Day is in good hands as he bids farewell to fixture he helped create
- Bumper young crowd praised as over 29,000 racegoers on track for British Champions Day at Ascot
- 'It would be foolish to think it was a pure fluke' - what did our experts make of Anmaat's Champion Stakes win?
- 'The best horse won' - Jim Crowley executes an astonishing success on a Champions Day of redemption
- 'I didn't see the winner coming' - Calandagan team rue narrow loss while below-par Economics is found with blood in his nose
- 'It'll continue to thrive' - Rod Street says Champions Day is in good hands as he bids farewell to fixture he helped create
- Bumper young crowd praised as over 29,000 racegoers on track for British Champions Day at Ascot
- 'It would be foolish to think it was a pure fluke' - what did our experts make of Anmaat's Champion Stakes win?
- 'The best horse won' - Jim Crowley executes an astonishing success on a Champions Day of redemption
- 'I didn't see the winner coming' - Calandagan team rue narrow loss while below-par Economics is found with blood in his nose