Ascot Champion Stakes: Add some celestial cartography at 40/1

According to today's edition of Paris-Turf, the 5-year-old gelding Map of Stars trained by Francis-Henri Graffard is being rerouted from the original plan of the Cox Plate in Australia back to European competition, specifically the Champion Stakes at Ascot on 17 October.

We consider him a very appealing outsider for this race at 40/1.

Map of Stars has Group 3 and Group 2 wins on his CV, has twice finished second at G1 level, and a gelding operation earlier this year looks to have brought him back to a peak: After a couple of dull prep runs at the start of the year, he ran out a ready winner of a wickedly competitive, huge-field Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot back in June.

The horse he beat into second that day, Wimbledon Hawkeye, did manage to beat him (by just a neck) next time out at Deauville. But that horse has since failed by a nose to win the Irish Champion Stakes, and was arguably unlucky not to do so. That performance should be viewed as a serious collateral form stamp.

Map of Stars will come to Ascot as a course-and-distance winner with little mileage in his legs this season. He is also ground-versatile, so it doesn't matter what the weather does.

As is often the case in the world of futures betting, a whole host of the horses quoted in this antepost market won't be turning up. Come 17 October, we can readily see Map of Stars trading at less than half his current price, and believe he has the ability to snatch a place at the very least.

Even if it would be a bit starry-eyed to consider him a likely winner if a horse like Ombudsman turns up.

Recommendation: Back Map of Stars each-way at 40/1 to win the Champion Stakes at Ascot racecourse on Saturday 17 October. Price available with Bet365, Paddy Power and Skybet. The 33/1 available with William Hill, Unibet, Betfred, Boylesports, Starsports, Quinnbet, and Betway is also fine.