Five runners who will relish testing conditions on Champions Day
BY LEWIS PORTEOUS 12:39PM 15 OCT 2018
After 40mm of rain during in the past 24 hours to 8am Monday, the going at Ascot for Qipco British Champions Day now features heavy in the official description. With that turn in the description in mind we pinpoint five horses who will relish testing conditions on the big day.
Lord Glitters
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
He may be versatile when it comes to the ground but one thing for sure with Lord Glitters is that he can produce his best when the going gets tough.
Seven times Lord Glitters has raced on going described as soft or heavy and he has never been out of the first two, winning four times and finishing runner-up on the other three occasions.
He also won the Balmoral Handicap over the QEII course and distance at this meeting last year when the ground was soft and there is a suggestion that he is at his very best when conditions have plenty of give.
Considering he has finished runner-up in a Group 1 on good to firm, he is going to be very hard to keep out of the frame if he improves on that form with give under foot.
James Doyle riding Addeybb
Addeybb
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes/Champion Stakes
It seems a while ago that Addeybb sloshed through the mud to win the Lincoln Handicap in a canter back in March but the manner of that performance is hard to forget.
Like Ascot, Doncaster had been hit with heavy rain in the build up to the Lincoln and Addeybb could not have been better suited.
There was also ease in the ground when he followed up in Group 2 company at Sandown and it seems crystal clear that good to firm ground was to blame when well beaten in the Lockinge.
He has not been seen since that effort due to a sizzling summer and quick ground, but the fact he was so good at Doncaster when returning from a break only increases confidence for Saturday, as does the likely testing conditions, with the QEII looking the more likely target from his two entries.
Librisa Breeze
Champions Sprint
Another of last year's winners, Librisa Breeze made his breakthrough at Group 1 level in the Champions Sprint, leaving his rivals toiling on testing ground.
He has not been able to reproduce that form in four runs since but he has been racing on ground no slower than good and his form comprehensively points to him being a superior horse on soft.
This might be a contest to crown the champion sprinter, but after heavy rain, stamina could prove the deciding factor and, having won over as far as 1m2f in the past, Librisa Breeze looks well placed for a repeat win.
Raising Sand
Balmoral Handicap
Like Lord Glitters, Raising Sand is more than capable of performing on quicker ground but it should not be ignored that he registered a career-best performance on ratings when winning on soft ground at Ascot last time.
He boasts a superb record at the course, with three wins at the track to his name, and in his current form looks sure to go well again on Champions Day at his favourite track.
He is yet to win on ground faster than good and the recent rain should boost his chance in this lucrative handicap.
Frankie Dettori rides Cracksman to win
Cracksman
Champion Stakes
Anthony Oppenheimer's middle-distance star put up the performance of the meeting at this fixture last year, pulverising a field that included 2018 King George winner Poet's Word and the mighty Highland Reel.
The key may well have been soft ground with trainer John Gosden deciding not to go for the Arc due to a lack of ease in the Longchamp turf.
There will be no danger of that at Ascot and while he has not been at his brilliant best on his last two starts, there will be no excuses on Saturday with conditions set up for another jaw-dropping performance.
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