Equinties - ante-post mess

Gm Equinauts

Champions day is a fairly new tradition signalling the end of the flat season and gives racing fans their last chance of see some of Europe’s best flat bred thoroughbred pedigree’s on display.

Being in October, the ground is normally soft - a good chance for the slow ground horses to make up for lost time running on concrete throughout the summer and an even better chance for ante-post bettors to line up a heavy ground horse early for the big denouement.

If you are one of these ante-post punters sitting on a price waiting for slop, be warned.

Due to the 23mm of rain that hit the Berkshire track between Wednesday and Friday last week as well as the potential of more, stewards at Ascot will have until 8am on the day of racing to decide whether they switch courses, onto the inside…where it will be good to soft!

A big difference and NOT right.

Let’s dive in.

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HEADLINE ROUND UP

CONTINUING TO JAPAN

Aidan O’Brien’s St Leger hero CONTINUOUS will miss this weekend’s Group 1 Champion Stakes and will instead be aimed for a mighty clash against EQUINOX in the Japan Cup.

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe fifth was not confirmed for Saturday’s £1,300,000 1m2f contest due to an abnormal temperature leaving Aidan O’Brien with just PADDINGTON – a likely QEII runner – and POINT LONSDALE in the race.

The master of Ballydoyle has been quietly chasing the British champion trainer title over the last few months and he sits just £300,000 in prize money away from overtaking John & Thady Gosden for the top spot, so the lack of CONTINUOUS on British Champions Day is a blow to his campaign.

Despite the likelihood that PADDINGTON heads to the QEII, a race they could also run CIARO in, O’Brien revealed that the Coolmore lads are interested in running their SIYOUNI colt in the longer distance race, as he said: “The lads haven’t totally made their mind up yet so obviously there is a chance [he runs in the Champion Stakes].

“Nothing is written in stone yet, and the lads don’t have to decide anything until Thursday morning, but they did ask for him to be left in both races so that’s what we’ve done.”

TICKET BOOKED

Hollie Doyle secured her Melbourne Cup ride. FUTURE HISTORY is at the bottom of the weights for the big one next month. He won the Gr3 Bart Cummings most recently, he’ll have to prove he can stay the 2miles.

AL SHAQAB

Yesterday was a big day for Al Shaqab for reasons both on and off the track.

On the track, DOHA, their daughter of SEA THE STARS out of the Arc winner TREVE, finally showed what her pedigree suggested as she bolted up on the third time of asking in a one-mile maiden event at Windsor.

She only made her debut in early September as a three-year-old, so she has taken some time to come to hand for Ralph Beckett. Connections have obviously been patient and that patience has been rewarded, though you would like to see her again before backing her just to make sure she didn’t just capitalise on a weak race.

Away from the track, Richard Hannon announced that his dual Group 2 winner LUSAIL had been retired and was off to stand at Haras de Bouquetot for 2024.

The four-year-old won two Group 2s as a juvenile, finished sixth in last year’s Guineas and was a head away from winning the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, so he had a fruitful career for connections.

His stud fee will be announced soon.

YOUNG BLOOD

After finding another Godolphin 2yo winner yesterday, there are no races of note for this section today.

STATS OF THE DAY

Only one stat today:

Hollie Doyle’s husband and Fanshawe have a 67% str all time at Leicester when teaming up. HERITAGE HOUSE goes for them today in the 15.25.

16.10 FAMILY POT has won 4 from 5 when running over fences on good ground or better. Clearly a fast ground horse, he runs on quick going today in the 16.10.

RISK ON

17.10 LOWTON

Big, improving gelding who will relish this ground. His last run was good despite getting blocked - he could have won, making him the horse to beat today. HODLER clear danger on Chester form but he’s failed to replicate that since. Small bet at 7/4.

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