Jaysella’s Ascot Champions Day Racecard for Saturday 18th October 2025

Jaysella’s Ascot Champions Day Racecard

Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 1) 12.55
Trawlerman
You can cast your net wide for a winner in the Long Distance Cup, but this one’s going to Trawlerman! John & Thady Gosden have taken their time with this Golden Horn gelding, and that patience has paid off handsomely, with this season in particular showing the value of his steady progression to become the foremost Stayer of his generation since the retirement of Kyprios. Of course, Aidan O’Brien isn’t empty-handed, with Saratoga possibly trying to set the pace for stablemate Stay True, but Karl Burke’s Al Qareem can also take them along at a lick from the front. But it’s 2023 winner Trawlerman they’ve er, all gotta reel in as it were, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see Sweet William being the one to follow him home, for a nice forecast.

Qipco British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes (1.30)
Words Of Truth
Charlie Appleby’s Words Of Truth hasn’t looked back since being gelded, winning three on the bounce including here. Old Charlie-boy wasted no time in giving Words Of Truth the snip after just the one run back in May, and I thought his last win, to reel in the smart prospect Into The Sky in the Mill Reef was really impressive. A repeat of that Group 2 win at Newbury Park puts him right on the money for me in this Group One. Now, William Haggas’s Division didn’t even show up on a racetrack until August, but is three from four in that short space of time, so James Doyle has to rate the big danger in the Wathnan Racing silks. Hugo Palmer’s Ardisia is one going the right way, so is my each-way angle if that’s your thing, but Words Of Truth is winning this.

Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1) 2.05
Big Mojo
Right then, I’m taking a chance on Mick Appleby’s Big Mojo for the Sprint. And, I’ve gotta tell you, this is the hardest race of the day to pick a winner, so I’ve ended up with five or six on my shortlist. Of course, Lazzat is the one lining up with course form, after scoring in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Ascot’s Royal do, but dare I say it he’s gone a bit off the boil when going off as favourite for the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock Park, a race won by Big Mojo. Not only that, but A Kind Of Blue was second to Big Mojo in that Group One, and this is his time of year, while Flora Of Bermuda was third and has Champion Jockey elect Oisin Murphy in the hot seat. No half measures would be my each-way gamble, but Big Mojo and Tom Marquand float my boat for this Sprint.

Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1) 2.45
Estrange
I think I’m gunna take the chance on Estrange for this Fillies & Mares Stakes. To me, she was pretty impressive in making a race of it up against Triple Oaks winner, Minnie Hauk, who of course went on to finish a brilliant second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe two weeks ago, and that marks Estrange up with a pretty strong form line for this. The one that keeps coming to mind though, is Francis-Henri Graffard’s Quisisana, who although just ninth in the Arc, did win the Group One Prix Jean Romanet on better ground, and I can easily see her having a say. Last year’s winner Kalpana has not quite been as good this term, so Owen Burrows Waardah could figure, especially in receipt of weight from a few of these, but Estrange it is for me. Come on!

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored By Qipco) (Group 1) 3.25
Rosallion (nb)
I reckon that Rosallion’s got some unfinished business here, after going as close as you can in the Queen Anne Stakes back in June. That curtain-raiser for Ascot’s Royal meeting went to course specialist, Docklands by a nose in a thriller of a finish, and here they meet again. Surely history can’t repeat itself, though I’ve been tempted into an each-way flutter on Harry Eustace’s stable star, but this is a field oozing with quality, from Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Field Of Gold to five time Group One winner Fallen Angel. One hell of a race, but Rosallion is hard as teak, sure to put in a big effort once more, and probably deserves a bit of luck this time.

Qipco Champion Stakes (Group 1) 4.05
Ombudsman (nap)
An absolute cracker this is, but I’ve got no hesitation in saying Ombudsman’s going to win. To me, John & Thady Gosdens’ Night Of Thunder colt is the outstanding colt in an outstanding field, with his brilliant win in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot’s Royal do over course and distance the one piece of form that stands out to me. That said, it’s one apiece between Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix and Ombudsman, so an edgy rematch coming up, and with the super French raider, Calandagan also lining up there ain’t gonna be no hiding place for anyone. Not forgotten, one of last year’s real stars, William Haggas’s Economics returns to the track after a lengthy absence, but it’s a big ask to win on his first run this season, so the improving Almeric might be the value each-way angle under Oisin Murphy. I still think it’s Ombudsman they all have to aim at though, in easily the hottest race of the day!

Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored By Qipco) 4.40
Fifth Column
I’ll take a chance that Fifth Column can bounce back from the Cambridgeshire and land the Balmoral for me. I mean, there’s plenty to make the case for, including Simon & Ed Crisfords’ course and distance winner Shout, the hat-trick seeking Cerulean Bay, Wathnan Racing’s Native Warrior and William Haggas’s Crown Of Oaks. But, although the winner could be one of these or not, I’m sticking with William Buick on Fifth Column to give me a winner in the last. Just edging onto the lower side of the draw seems to be the right place to be, so Fifth Column shouldn’t be far away, with Shout maybe next best under the marvellous Oisin Murphy.