Saturdays Champions Day Horseracing Tips, 17 October

By Carl Harris

One of my favourite cards of the flat season is the Champion Stakes at Newmarket which once again has provided an excellent day of racing. The Champion Stakes was won very impressively by New Approach last year, the Derby winner. With what Sea The Stars has done this year it seems a long time ago now but hopefully we will see something as impressive this year.

Despite a great card at Cheltenham I will focus exclusively on Newmarket today, a truely excellent day of racing. Just look at the card which is packed with pattern races;

13:50 Victor Chandler Challenge Stakes (group 2) (3yo+, Class 1, 7f, 10 runners)
14:25 Jumeirah Dewhurst Stakes (group 1) (2yo, Class 1, 7f, 15 runners)
15:00 Emirates Airline Champion Stakes (group 1) (3yo+, Class 1, 1m 2f, 14 runners)
15:40 Totesport.com Cesarewitch (heritage Handicap) (3yo+, Class 2, 2m 2f, 36 runners)
16:15 Lotus Evora Rockfel Stakes (fillies’ Group 2) (2yo, Class 1, 7f, 11 runners)
16:50 Pride Stakes (fillies’ Group 2) (3yo+, Class 1, 1m 4f, 11 runners)
17:25 Jockey Club Cup (group 3) (3yo+, Class 1, 2m, 8 runners)

My best bets at Newmarket are as follows;

2.25 Newmarket- Chabal, Win

Godolphin has snapped up Chabal (14:25) and will be looking for reassurance that they have spent their money wisely. Certainly the form looks very strong, going down by a short margin last time out to the very well regarded Kingsfort. Jim Bolger has an excellent record in the Dewhurst and saddles the favourite again before it joins the boys in blue. The run in the group one Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh is easily the best on offer and I think Chabal holds outstanding claims of winning this.

Fame and Glory fav for Champion Stakes at Newmarket

3.00 Newmarket- Fame and Glory, Win (Nap)

Were it not for Sea The Stars then Fame and Glory (15:00) would have had a magnificent season. Indeed he was unlucky to be the same age as one of the all-time greats but by any standards Fame and Glory is a very good colt. The Irish Derby winner ran well in the Arc and can land the Champions Stakes in style for and provide Aidan O’Brien with a big middle distance prize, having been thwarted all year by John Oxx’s superstar. Kieren Fallon rides chief rival Sariska but for me this race is all about Fame and Glory who is the best bet of the day and a confident selection to win the Champions Stakes for Aidan O’Brien and Johnny Murtagh.

4.15 Newmarket- Tabassum, Win (NB)

Sir Michael Stoute has an exciting filly in Tabassum (16:15) who trotted up in the Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket a couple of weeks ago and is going to take some stopping here. She has plenty of speed and is the subject of some very good reports from a set of connections who certainly know a good one when they have one. Richard Hills has had a great season and has plenty to think about over the winter with Tabassum right up there with the best of the owners 2010 prospects. Anything that beats her will be a very good filly, I think she will win impressively.