Champions Day Tips: Tom Collins has four Ascot selections on Saturday

The 2022 Flat season concludes at Ascot on Saturday, where numerous equine and human stars will compete for Britain’s remaining rich turf prizes during Champions Day.

Six scheduled races include four Group 1s, a stamina-sapping Group 2 and an ultra competitive handicap that will bring a close to proceedings. However, many believe this star-studded card revolves around just one horse: the brilliant Baaeed.

Shadwell’s leading four-year-old looks to bow out with his unbeaten streak intact - and who would back against him? He currently boasts a career record of 10 wins from as many races, as well as owning the highest official rating in Britain by some considerable margin.

He undoubtedly produced a career-best performance in the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York when last seen, which was his first start over a trip further than a mile, and possesses form on good to soft ground. There is very little to suggest that Baaeed won’t end his racing career with another victory, but his price reflects that.

Bay Bridge (left): returns after a three-month absence to face Baaeed

Instead of looking for a horse to beat William Haggas’ superstar in the British Champions Stakes (4.00), zone in on the place market. This race has a nice each-way betting shape to it and I’m hopeful that Sir Michael Stoute’s Bay Bridge can land minor money. 

I’ve long been a fan of this horse - ever since he won the London Gold Cup at Newbury last May, in fact - and, although he looked like he was about to stamp his name on this division back in the spring, his last couple of efforts have been somewhat disappointing.

In truth, he ran pretty well at Royal Ascot in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes but State Of Rest had the run of the race and stole the prize. The winner is a multiple Group 1 winner in his own right, so that form stacks up nicely, but Bay Bridge definitely ran below-par last time in the Eclipse.

Vadeni won a messy renewal and just four lengths split the first five home, but I expected much more from this classy individual. Stoute has kept him off the track ever since and hopefully we’ll see the real Bay Bridge on Saturday. Since his debut, his form figures after 100 or more days off the track read 111 and, although I don’t expect that unbeaten run to continue, he can certainly run into the frame.

Before I move onto my two Champions Day win plays, it’s time to touch on the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (2.40). Three-year-olds have won seven of the last eight runnings of this race and many will hope that trend continues as Emily Upjohn and Eternal Pearl head the market.

Emily Upjohn (red): bids to get her career back on track in a first-time hood

The latter has plausible claims if she improves again, but I can’t have Emily Upjohn one bit at the current prices. She will be fitted with a first-time hood on unsuitably soft ground off the back of a flat run in the King George - not for me!

Again, this looks an each-way betting race and I landed on the French filly, Sweet Lady. Francis-Henri Graffard’s four-year-old will handle conditions better than most and she proved her class last time by beating Haggas’ Lilac Road and Aidan O’Brien’s Tuesday in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille.

She was enterprisingly ridden that day - they went from the front instead of employing usual patient tactics - but she’s very versatile in that regard as proven by her close-up finish behind subsequent Arc winner Alpinista in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud in July. A repeat of either run should see her challenge the protagonists.

The Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (1.25) opens the card and the market has finally taken the right shape after traders initially installed Eldar Eldarov as favourite. 

Roger Varian’s three-year-old shouldn’t be overlooked, of course, but no St Leger winner has ever won this race and I don’t think this year’s edition of Doncaster’s Classic was as strong as usual. Giavellotto, who would have finished second with a clear run, has subsequently tasted defeat in Listed company, which says it all really.

I much prefer Trueshan, who has been waiting all year for these conditions and looks for a third consecutive victory in this race. His two previous Long Distance Cup successes have come by a total winning margin of nine lengths and, if he hadn’t finished second on his most recent outing at Donny, he would be near-enough evens here.

Alan King said he didn’t let himself down in the Doncaster Cup after running on relatively quick ground the time before at Goodwood, which makes plenty of sense, and I’m more than happy to give him another chance under Hollie Doyle.

Finally, I will be a very happy man if Rohaan gets the job done in the following Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (2.00). This horse has really grown on me in recent months and his progression is well worth shouting from the rooftops. Don’t forget, he began handicap life off a mark of just 55 under two years ago and has quickly developed into a real top-level performer.

Aside from a handful of runs at York, Rohaan rarely fails to produce his A-game and I thought he was exceptional last time in the Bengough Stakes at this track. Adam Kirby gave him a peach of a ride that day, and I expect a carbon-copy this time around.

History tells us that you don’t want to be drawn high in this race, so stall six looks ideal, and there’s plenty of pace to chase for a horse whose high cruising speed is his biggest asset. Back at Ascot on ground he loves, Rohaan can provide this column with a winning best bet.

Recommended Ascot bets

Trueshan (1.25 Ascot) @ 2.88
Rohaan (2.00 Ascot) @ 6
Sweet Lady (2.40 Ascot) @ 14
Bay Bridge (4.00 Ascot) @ 19