The highlight of Saturday's Champions Day card is undoubtedly
the re-match between Azamour and Doyen in the Group One Champion
Stakes. The race gives Doyen the chance to redeem himself
after flopping in the Irish Champion Stakes behind Azamour
last time out. That run was too bad to be true, and it is
worth remembering that he had looked a truly top-class performer
after his impressive victory in the King George back in July.
His trainer Saeed Bin Surror has his team in brilliant shape
(four wins on Monday), while the horse has since been putting
in some sparkling displays on the home gallops. Jockey Frankie
Dettori has chosen him in front of stablemate Refuse To Bend
(who has the form to match the best of these), and the hint
should be taken.
The big betting race on the card is the Tote Cesarewitch, a 36-runner handicap over 2 ¼ miles – shouldn't be too difficult to solve then! Their has been a considerable ante-post gamble on the Irish runner – Orpington – but that looks set to go astray as he is now a doubtful runner. Jumpers have an excellent record in the race, with six of the last eight winners having had decent hurdle form, and the most likely candidate from that sphere appears to be Mr Ed. The six-year-old has been a revelation this year, winning five races (four hurdles, one flat), and giving the impression that he will relish this marathon trip.
He could well go off favourite on the day, but at a bigger price a chance is taken with It's The Limit trained by Amanda Perrett, whose father Guy Harwood had an excellent with staying horses, winning this race ten years ago with Captains Guest. It's The Limit has been slow to mature (only 9 races in his life), but has always given the impression that he was a high-class stayer in the making (finished well over two miles last time out), and looks set to improve again over this trip.
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