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Racecards

15:05 Ascot

Qipco Champion Stakes (British Champions Middle Distance) (Group 1) (Class 1)

  • 13 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 2f
  • Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places in the round course)
  • Surface: Turf
  • £1,358,750 added
  • Winner: £770,547
  • 2nd: £292,131
  • 3rd: £146,202
  • 4th: £72,829
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 2m 6.31s
  • Off Time: 15:09:30
  • 13 Ran
1(10)
Silk - Black and Light Blue check, Black sleeves, Light Blue cap

Air Pilot

14 D
33/1
  • Form 131-313
  • Age 6
  • Weight 9-5
  • Official Rating 111

in touch in 5th, headway tracking leaders over 2f out, driven on outside 2f out, disputing 2nd over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong

2(7)
Silk - Beige, dark blue cross of lorraine and sleeves, dark blue cap, beige star
  • Form 5-11251
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-5
  • Official Rating 120

held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ridden chasing leaders over 1f out, 2nd approaching final furlong, driven to lead inside final furlong, stayed on strongly and won going away

3(2)
Silk - Claret, gold braid, claret sleeves, claret cap, gold tassel
50/1
  • Form 1-11243
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-5
  • Official Rating 115

always towards rear, eased when no chance over 1f out, never a factor

4(13)
Silk - Royal Blue, Red cap
  • Form 6-15110
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-5
  • Official Rating 112

soon crossed over to lead, headed over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f

5(4)
Silk - Pink, Emerald Green chevron, halved sleeves, quartered cap
12/1
  • Form 11-1421
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-5
  • Official Rating 116

tracked leading pair, 2nd 2f out, ridden and lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong

6(11)
Silk - Navy Blue, Red and Light Blue hoop and armlets, White cap
50/1
  • Form 144515
  • Age 7
  • Weight 9-5
  • Official Rating 114

towards rear, 7th and no impression inside final furlong,

7(5)
Silk - White, brown chevron, orange cap
8/1
  • Form 2117-11
  • Age 4
  • Weight 9-5

tracked leaders in 4th, ridden and weakened over 2f out

8(6)
Silk - WHITE, large BLACK spots, BLACK cap

Ribbons

34 D
14/1
  • Form 12-3361
  • Age 5
  • Weight 9-2
  • Official Rating 115

held up in mid-division, pushed along and headway over 2f out, ridden and not quicken well over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong

9(12)
Silk - Royal blue

Jack Hobbs

42 D
Evs
  • Form 1-12211
  • Age 3
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 123

tracked leader, led over 2f out, idled and ridden 2f out, driven over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on same pace, lost 2nd near finish

10(9)
Silk - Purple, white sleeves, purple hoops, striped cap
  • Form 8-61214
  • Age 3
  • Weight 9-0

mid-division, pushed along on outside 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out

11(1)
Silk - Royal blue, white cap
  • Form 0-111
  • Age 3
  • Weight 9-0
  • Official Rating 112

mid-division, pushed along over 3f out, headway chasing leaders over 2f out, ridden and edged right over 1f out, 4th and one pace inside final furlong

12(3)
Silk - CLARET, GOLD braid, CLARET sleeves, GOLD cap
33/1
  • Form 111562
  • Age 3
  • Weight 9-0

always towards rear, never a factor

13(8)
Silk - Royal blue, orange disc, striped sleeves and cap
9/2
  • Form 222129
  • Age 3
  • Weight 8-11
  • Official Rating 118

held up last, headway and switched right inside final 2f, squeezed through on inner approaching final furlong, stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd near finish, no chance with winner

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

No three-year-old has won this since New Approach in 2008 but Jack Hobbs also brings classic-winning form to the table having landed the Irish Derby at the Curragh after finishing second to stablemate Golden Horn at Epsom. He was also runner-up to the Arc winner over this trip in the Dante in May so dropping back in distance shouldn't be a problem, though connections wouldn't want any more rain and he may be hampered by a wide draw. At the likely odds, the filly FOUND (NAP) makes more appeal as she was only beaten a length by Golden Horn in the Irish Champion Stakes and just touched off by Ervedya in the Coronation Stakes here in June. She was only beaten five lengths in the Arc after meeting trouble in-running and can gain compensation. Ribbons is a Group 1 winner and a high-class mare who is rarely far away. She has place claims after returning to winning ways at the Curragh last month while Andre Fabre's Vadamos is useful, though could find a few of these too good. Racing History is improving and holds Fascinating Rock on the form book but takes another big step up in class but The Corsican could run well if reproducing his run behind Free Eagle in the Princess Of Wales's Stakes over track and trip in the summer.

Formwatch

Air Pilot (8-13) 3rd of 8, 3/4l behind Free Port Lux (8-13) at Longchamp 1m 2f Grp 2 gs in Oct.

Fascinating Rock (IRE) 2-1fav (9-12) Raced in 3rd, closer order from over 4f out, challenged travelling smoothly into straight, soon on terms, led from 2f out, asserted 1 1/2f out, stayed on well final furlong, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) Yielding in Sep beating Panama Hat (9-9) by 6l, 5 ran.

Lightning Spear 7-4fav (9-8) Raced in 4th, pushed along before straight, improved to chase winner 1f out, no impression and edged left inside final furlong, soon one pace in 3rd, 3rd of 5, 3 1/4l behind Custom Cut (9-8) at Leopardstown 1m Grp 2 stks (1) Yielding in Sep.

Maverick Wave (USA) 7-1 (9-0) Done early, vanned off, last of 13, dist behind The Pizza Man (9-0) at Arlington 1m 2f stks fm in Aug.

The Corsican (IRE) 4-1fav (9-3) Tracked leader, driven to lead over 2f out, stayed on strongly final furlong, won at Newbury 1m 3f Grp 3 (1) gs in Sep beating Sky Hunter (9-8) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.

Tullius (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Held up in touch, ridden to chase leaders over 1 out, kept on same pace, no impression inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 7 3/4l behind Kodi Bear (8-7) at Salisbury 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Aug.

Vadamos (FR) (9-2) won at Baden-Baden 1m Grp 2 (1) in Sep beating Merry Me (8-11) by 5l, 9 ran.

Ribbons 3-1fav (9-7) Held up towards rear, headway in 7th on outer 3f out, improved travelling smoothly 2f out, pushed along to lead 1f out and edged right, reduced lead but kept on well close home, won at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 2 fll stks (1) gd in Sep beating Tapestry (9-7) by 1/2l, 9 ran.

Jack Hobbs 1-5fav (9-3) Tracked leader, led over 2f out, pushed clear inside final furlong, easily, won at Kempton 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) pol in Sep beating Sweeping Up (9-2) by 3 1/4l, 7 ran.

Palace Prince (GER) (8-11) 4th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Prince Gibraltar (9-6) at Baden-Baden 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep.

Racing History (IRE) 9-2fav (8-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, ran on well, eased close home, won at Windsor 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Aug beating Cannock Chase (9-1) by 1l, 8 ran.

Sumbal (IRE) 4-1fav (9-2) 2nd of 8, nk behind Karaktar (9-2) at Longchamp 1m 2f Grp 3 hvy in Sep.

Found (IRE) 18-1 (8-8) Held up, stayed on, not reach leaders, 9th of 17, 4 1/2l behind Golden Horn (8-11) at Longchamp 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct.