Michael Owen’s Champions Day picks
QIPCO British Champions Day will be fantastic, but what about winners? Michael Owen, Qipco British Champions Day brand ambassador, has helped to mark your card.
“I’m really looking forward to some fantastic racing. It will be a great start if Her Majesty The Queen’s wonderful mare ESTIMATE can get the card off to a flyer. Ascot Gold Cup winner LEADING LIGHT is my selection for the forecast.
In the Sprint (2.20), anyone wishing to back GORDON LORD BYRON should get a good run for their money, don’t forget he beat Slade Power by three lengths last year. I also like the look of TROPICS.
The Fillies & Mares (2.55) is an intriguing contest, SILK SARI for Luca Cumani is my tentative pick from CHICQUITA.
I would expect leading jockey Ryan Moore to have a winner and perhaps he can land the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (3.30) on INTEGRAL for Sir Michael Stoute. KINGSBARNS might be one each-way.
The QIPCO Champion Stakes (4.05) is once again a fantastic race and there are few more consistent top class performers than CIRRUS DES AIGLES and I expect him to win for France. FREE EAGLE, trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by jockey Pat Smullen, should be in the frame.
In the concluding Balmoral Handicap (4.45), my tentative choices are VELOX, who will be ridden by leading apprentice Cam Hardie, and HEAVEN’S GUEST for the Richard Fahey stable.
I wish you every success, on a wonderful day’s racing.”