'I don't think he's been better' - Meade's hopes high for Advertise at Ascot

Martyn Meade is undeterred about the prospect of heavy ground at Ascot on Saturday as star sprinter Advertise looks to bring the curtain down on a fabulous career with a fourth top-level success in the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes.

High-class at two when he was runner-up to Calyx in the Coventry Stakes over Saturday's course and distance and a Group 1 winner in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh, Advertise has been exclusively campaigned at the highest level this season, adding the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and Prix Maurice de Gheest to his tally during a memorable year.

Owned by Phoenix Thoroughbreds, Advertise is due to take up stallion duties after Saturday's big race and, despite being uneasy in the market as conditions deteriorate at Ascot, his trainer is bullish about ending on a high.

"He goes into Saturday in extremely good form and I don't think he's ever been better," said the upbeat trainer.

Facing competition at the head of the market from the supplemented Make A Challenge, general 9-2 favourite Advertise has never tackled ground softer than the good to soft he won on in the Commonwealth Cup, but Meade is not ruling out further improvement on ground described as heavy on Ascot's straight course.

"We've been able to try him at home with good cut in the ground and, from what I see of him, I think he will quite enjoy it," Meade added.

Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes entries

"At home he relishes it, so it shouldn't be a problem, and there's no danger of him not running on that basis. I certainly don't think the ground will inconvenience him and there is a possibility he might even improve on it. I'm pretty bullish."

Advertise missed last month's Sprint Cup at Haydock with a late setback, although in the end it did not amount to anything more than a few sniffles, and will again be partnered by Frankie Dettori.

"He had a little bit of a runny nose before Haydock and it was nothing more than a precaution that we didn't run him there," said Meade. "A win on Saturday would be the icing on the cake. He's done everything else for us and it would be fairytale stuff."

Among Saturday's rivals will be redoubtable veteran The Tin Man, who landed last year's Sprint Cup on heavy ground and won the Champions Sprint back in 2016.

"I'm really happy with him again and it was great to see him run well," said trainer James Fanshawe, reflecting on his close second in the Sprint Cup last month.

The Tin Man (near side) runs yet another big race in the Sprint Cup at HaydockCredit: Edward Whitaker

"Haydock showed he was back to his old self, which he hadn't really shown until then. He wasn't quite right behind after Newbury and had a break, but he came into form before Haydock and seems to be in very good form since.

"He's run well on heavy at Haydock and I suppose both there and Ascot are sand-based tracks, but all I can say is the old boy is in great shape and I'm sure Oisin Murphy is looking forward to riding him."

The Tin Man is a best-price 10-1 with William Hill and will be joined at Ascot by stablemate Pondus, a 33-1 shot with the same firm for the Qipco Champion Stakes.

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