Ascot Champion Stakes: Two outsiders stand out in showpiece event

Shutterstock

The five-day declarations are now in for Champions Day Ascot this Saturday (19 October). For those interested in an each-way interest or a trading position on an outsider, The AntePoster has identified two horses that will likely start much shorter than they are now, with a sporting chance of giving punters a decent return.

French gelding being overlooked

The case for Iresine (20/1 with Paddy Power and Betfair Sportbook) is quite an easy one to make: He’s overpriced as this French gelding is a relatively unknown quantity for the British and Irish bookmaking fraternity, having never raced this side of the channel. But his race record at home entitles him to considerably more respect – this a horse who has won 15 of his 23 races, including the G1 Prix Ganay last year in which no less than four other Group 1 winners trailed in behind him.

He ran close to his best last time, winning the G2 Prix Foy. The AntePoster expects him to run very well on Saturday, with a realistic chance of placing and a squeak of upsetting the apple cart completely. Every drop of rain that falls is improving his chances, and conditions look to be attritional even with the likely switch to the inner round course. Trainer Jean-Pierre Gauvin is firmly intent on this British raid, so non-runner risk is limited.

Burke horse potentially on verge of career best

At a much bigger price, it’s arguable that Royal Rhyme (66/1 with B365) is not fully exposed in soft ground conditions. Fifth in this race last year (ran too keenly, a perennial issue admittedly), he has run right up to that form level this season, but crucially on ground that has been faster than he cares for. Last time out in the Irish Champion Stakes, again racing on fast ground (officially “good”, but some observers believe that was an erroneous description), he finished just three lengths behind Economics, who is 5/4 for this race at the time of writing. With the ground certain to be far softer this coming Saturday, it is quite conceivable that this five-year old can run a career best and make the first three. At 66/1, Bet365 are offering the punter 13-1 for the place part of an each-way bet, which we view as a must-play. Trainer Karl Burke has confirmed to The AntePoster that Royal Rhyme is set to run, so here too non-runner risk is limited.

Recommendation: Back Iresine (20/1 with Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook) and Royal Rhyme (66/1, Bet365) each-way for the Champion Stakes at Ascot on 19 October