The eagerly anticipated British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse has been thrown a curveball by heavy rainfall overnight and into the morning, according to sources close to the event. With £4.1 million in prize money and four prestigious Group 1 races on the line, the wet weather is already making an impact on the track and the betting markets.
Soft Going Shifts Odds
The persistent rain has rendered the going soft, especially on the round course. As a result, Ascot officials made the decision to move three races originally scheduled for the round course onto the tighter inner track. While perhaps not the visual spectacle many were hoping for, the switch aims to provide the safest and fairest racing surface.
The changing conditions have also prompted a shake-up in the betting odds. In the day’s marquee event, the £1.3 million Champion Stakes, French raider Calandagan has been the subject of sustained market support. The three-year-old, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, appears to relish soft ground and has form over the 12-furlong distance. Once available at 6-4, Calandagan is now odds-on across the boards.
“The rain has definitely changed the complexion of the Champion Stakes,” a leading bookmaker confided. “Calandagan ticks a lot of boxes and the punters have latched onto him. His main market rival, the Irish Champion Stakes winner Economics, prefers a sounder surface so he’s on the drift.”
Favorites Emerge in Other Features
In the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over Ascot’s straight mile, Royal Ascot winner Charyn heads the market at a general 13-8. The three-year-old son of Epsom Derby hero Camelot appears to handle any ground and is two from two over this specialist distance.
The unbeaten filly Kalpana, so impressive when landing the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, is a warm order to follow up in the Fillies’ & Mares Stakes. Carrying the Wildenstein colors made famous by the iconic All Along, Kalpana is expected to prove hard to beat, with only soft ground devotee Eternal Jewel feared as a possible spanner in the works.
Punters’ fingers are hovering over the “refresh” button ahead of the Sprint Stakes, with the betting sure to chop and change as the 16 runners approach the tapes. “A lot will depend on where the early speed comes from,” an experienced punter explained. “Low numbers could be favored if anything tries to cross from a high draw, but if they race in two groups then it’s a clean slate. Trappy race!”
History on the Line in Long Distance Cup
The card kicks off at 1:20 with the British Champions Long Distance Cup. All eyes will be on the mighty mare Kyprios, who bids to become the first three-time winner of the Ascot Gold Cup. With proven form on testing ground and for this two-mile distance, the Aidan O’Brien-trained superstar will be a red-hot favorite to get favorite-backers off to a perfect start.
“Kyprios just doesn’t know how to lose,” the mare’s adoring groom divulged. “The wetter the better for my girl; it blunts the speed of the others and she just keeps galloping. She’ll take all the beating.”
With a crowd of 29,000 expected, down just slightly on last year’s attendance for Frankie Dettori’s fond farewell to British racecourses, the atmosphere at Ascot is sure to be electric despite the gloomy weather. Will the favorites oblige, or are some big-priced upsets in store? One thing’s for sure, drama and world class equine athletes are guaranteed.
