Soft-ground specialists: who will thrive in the testing conditions in the Group 1s on Champions Day at Ascot?

There is significant rain forecast at Ascot ahead of Saturday's British Champions Day card and we have delved into the Group 1s to assess who will be favoured by the testing conditions . . .

Ascot prepared for plenty of rain - but British Champions Day card is not considered under threat

Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (1.55 Ascot, 6f)

Art Power had Kinross a neck behind when causing a 40-1 upset in this race last year. Tim Easterby's seven-year-old is 0-8 since, but those runs have all come on officially good or good to firm ground and getting back on a soft surface will be a big plus. Meanwhile, Kinross found only the classy Ramatuelle too strong in the Prix de la Foret on Arc day and similarly testing ground should bring his stamina to the fore over this trip.

Following his victory in the Group 3 Prix de Meautry at Deauville in August, Spycatcher's trainer Karl Burke claimed his horse "loves soft ground, that's key to him". Conditions at Ascot should therefore benefit the Highclere-owned six-year-old, who was two and a quarter lengths behind the front two when third in this race last year.

Preference is for Montassib though, who has gained three wins from four starts this season, his latest success coming at Group 1 level in the Sprint Cup at Haydock. Trainer William Haggas has trained Montassib with one eye firmly on the Champions Sprint this season and the son of Exceed And Excel is a perfect three from three on officially soft ground.

Montassib13:55 Ascot

View Racecard

Jky: Tnr: William Haggas

Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (2.35 Ascot, 1m4f)

Kalpana is a best-priced 7-4 for the Fillies & Mares following wide-margin wins at Hamilton and Kempton the last twice, but she is yet to race on ground softer than good.

Her main market rival is the Sir Mark Prescott-trained Tiffany, who kicked off this season with a four-and-a-quarter-length win in a Listed race at Baden-Baden on soft ground. Her sire Farhh took the Champion Stakes on soft ground in 2013 and tends to produce horses who handle testing conditions.

German raider Quantanamera bolted up by eight and a half lengths in a Group 3 on soft ground in October 2022 and gained her first win since when turning over odds-on favourite Arrest in a Deauville Group 2 last time on ground described as very soft.

Both Tiffany and Quantanamera warrant respect, but at the prices it could pay to chance Danielle. John and Thady Gosden's filly was viewed as a possible Oaks contender after scoring by 12 lengths in a soft-ground Wetherby novice in April and that form reads okay with the second and third now officially rated 90 and 84. The daughter of dual Champion Stakes scorer Cracksman has not kicked on since that success, but her last two runs have come on good to firm ground and she will appreciate the return to a slow surface.

Danielle14:35 Ascot

View Racecard

Jky: Kieran Shoemark Tnr: John & Thady Gosden

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (3.15 Ascot, 1m)

Roger Varian's Charyn has produced form figures of 112112 this season, winning on soft ground at Doncaster in March and over this course and distance in the Queen Anne Stakes at the royal meeting. He deserves to be favourite but there is a concern that after a busy season this may prove one race too many.

Recent Newmarket scorers Tamfana and Prague should not be inconvenienced by soft ground, but this looks tougher than their recent assignments and the relatively quick turnarounds for both are also of concern.

France had a one-two in this race last year with Big Rock defeating Facteur Cheval. The latter bids to go one place better this year and has been freshened up since finishing third in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood when last seen in July. He is one for the shortlist on ground expected to suit, but may have to settle for second again with his compatriot Metropolitan favoured. Mario Baratti's colt was a Group 1 winner on soft ground in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains earlier this year and has held his form since, including when third in the St James's Palace Stakes on the round course here in June.

Metropolitan15:15 Ascot

View Racecard

Jky: Tnr: Mario Baratti

Qipco Champion Stakes (3.55 Ascot, 1m2f)

Economics bids to make it a perfect five from five this season and follow up his narrow victory in a star-studded Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. Trainer William Haggas expects Economics to improve when returned to a testing surface on Saturday, but the colt was beaten on heavy ground on his debut and there's a danger his tough Irish Champion Stakes run could have left its mark.

Three-year-olds Calandagan and Los Angeles have won Group 1s this season and an ease in the ground should not be an issue for either, but with the hope that this turns into a dour test, Iresine could represent the value. Jean-Pierre Gauvin's seven-year-old has won an impressive 15 times in 23 starts and from distances ranging from 1m2f to 1m7½f. The Champion Stakes was mentioned as a potential target after his latest victory in the Prix Foy on Arc trials weekend, and the news of significant rain at Ascot this week would have been music to the ears of his connections.