Champions Day Ascot 2024 Antepost Tips: Three for British Flat finale

British Champions Day is exactly a month away and following last weekend’s racing – including the Betfred St Leger, Irish Champion Stakes and Arc Trials Day – the picture is starting to look a bit clearer ahead of the Ascot spectacle.

So, I’ve had a good look at the updated markets and come up with a few Champions Day Ascot 2024 antepost tips.

Long Distance Cup – Trawlerman @ 4/1

Aidan O’Brien’s superstar stayer Kyprios would be unopposable if turning up for this Group 2 over two miles, but his participation isn’t certain.

He has the unlikely option of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe or the Prix du Cadaran he won by a whopping 20 lengths last year. It’s also been suggested he may not even run again this term.

With that in mind, I make John & Thady Gosden’s TRAWLERMAN a great antepost bet at 4/1.

The Golden Horn gelding is one of just two horses to beat Kyprios in 13 races panning over two and a half years, and he gave him plenty to think about in defeat in the Gold Cup at this year’s Royal Ascot.

Five lengths behind the selection that day was Sweet William, who at time of publication is a 5/1 shot and third favourite – including Kyprios – for the Long Distance Cup.

It’s been reported that Trawlerman is on target following a break and he has an excellent record fresh, so he’s the first name on my antepost agenda for Champions Day.

Fillies & Mares Stakes – Quantanamera @ 18/1

This race could cut up significantly between now and mid-October, for many of those atop the antepost market – including but not limited to Bluestocking, Content, Opera Singer and Ylang Ylang – have other options this autumn.

One intended runner for sure is the German-trained Lope De Vega filly QUANTANAMERA – and she has strong claims on the back of her most recent effort.

Andreas Suborics’ four-year-old hacked up in the G2 Grand Prix de Deauville in late August, drawing four lengths clear of John & Thady Gosden’s useful Arrest who had the rest of the field over three lengths behind.

That was a real return to form for this filly who went nine runs without a win following a Group 3 success at Baden-Baden on just her second ever start as a two-year-old.

It was just her second attempt at 1m4f+ and she relished it. Likewise, the deep ground posed no problems and as we know similar conditions are very possible on Champions Day.

If she can bring that same level of form to Berkshire, there’s no reason she can’t be competitive in what could just be an average renewal.

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – Big Rock @ 14/1

There’s no denying that last year’s QEII hero BIG ROCK has been largely disappointing this season for new trainer Maurizio Guarnieri.

Since that emphatic six-length triumph for Christopher Head, the son of Rock Of Gibraltar has been beaten out of sight in the Lockinge at Newbury and then the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, before an improved effort in the G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois.

He then took another step forward when an eye-catching third in a lucrative Group 1 at Woodbine, Canada, suggesting he may just be coming to hand in time for the big day.

It’s also worth noting that the slowest ground he’s encountered all year is ‘good’, so perhaps it’s no great surprise that this soft ground-lover has struggled. You can expect much more suitable conditions on Champions Day.

A few ahead of him in the market – namely Opera Singer, Metropolitan, Haatem, Henry Longfellow and Notable Speech – are unlikely/non-runners in waiting, so I suggest taking the 14/1 now.

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