'We've been waiting ages for soft ground' - can one of the sprint wildcards land Group 3 Bengough Stakes?

The Bengough Stakes has been granted a new lease of life by its link to the British Champions Sprint Stakes. This race can be used as a trial for the big day in a couple of weeks. More commonly it is a chance for outsiders in that race to land a prize that is more at their level, making the Champions Sprint a free hit.

Five of the nine declared in the Bengough have an entry in the Champions Sprint. You can back any of them at 50-1 or longer for the big race. In most cases – those of Purosangue, Adaay In Devon and Vadream – their price is a reflection of genuine outsider status.

With English Oak and Wiltshire, their price for Champions Day says something else. Both are wildcards in Group sprints. English Oak is dropping down from seven furlongs, Wiltshire is stepping up from handicaps.

English Oak has the Ascot form, having won the Buckingham Palace in emphatic style in June. He has struggled since, albeit there were genuine signs of recovery at Newbury last time. Having form at the course, form over further and Jamie Spencer on your back are all major positives on Ascot's straight course.

More guesswork is needed with Wiltshire but clues might not be far beneath the surface. He thrives on the all-weather, which often translates to Ascot's straight course. He is a strong-travelling fast finisher, a style that often does well here. And he is progressive. Even his defeat last week at Haydock over five furlongs was a career-best run.

There are some similar motifs to what William Haggas did with Sense Of Duty last year. After proving herself on the all-weather and having a layoff, she was aimed at the Champions Sprint and given one run to prepare. It was probably insufficient. That Haggas runs Wiltshire here a week on from Haydock could suggest he is taking his Champions Sprint entry seriously. That would be worth noting.
Analysis by Keith Melrose

Ground and weather

Ascot has been dry since a spell of intense rain ended on Tuesday and the going on the straight course was soft on Friday. Saturday is forecast to be mainly dry, with another band of rain not arriving until the evening.

What they say

Ed Walker, trainer of English Oak
Things haven't quite worked out for him since his emphatic win in the Buckingham Palace in June, although there have been reasons for each slightly frustrating effort. I hope bringing him back to Ascot and 6f will do the trick.

William Haggas, trainer of Wiltshire
We've been waiting ages for soft ground. He ran well at Haydock last weekend and had a good blow. He's ready to go again. He's not very big and would have to carry big weights off 105 in handicaps.

Owen Burrows, trainer of Jarraaf
He’s been progressing well through handicaps and seems to have a real liking for Ascot. Ideally we’d like the ground to dry out but he’s worked well on soft at home. There was a stage earlier in the year when we thought he’d sink in it as he’s such a big horse but he’s strengthened up as the year has gone on.

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of Vadream
There’s a solid argument for saying she’s been in the form of her life this year even at the age of six. She was disappointing last time at the Curragh as they didn’t get the rain but she should be fine back at six furlongs in a race she won three years ago.

Rod Millman, trainer of Adaay In Devon
It was exceptionally heavy when she was beaten at Newbury last time and hopefully this will be different as Ascot dries out quickly. We're hoping that going back up in trip suits her.
Reporting by David Milnes

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