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We still don't think it was a good idea to move this meeting to after the Arc.
Yes it combined some Ascot and some Newmarket races into one day but it is later in the year and the weather can be problematic as it is this year with the track already soft and heavy rain due Saturday morning.
Bearing all that in mind here's a look at the day starting with the Lond Distance Cup G2 which could really be G1 as the field is headed by Kyprios on 8/11 for O'Brien-Moore and he needs no introduction – an excellent horse. Trawlerman is also useful and on 4/1 with William Buick riding for the Gosdens and we are putting in a roughie here – Kyprios's stablemate The Euphrates has Soumillon riding and is on 25/1 which is very generous after his nice win at the Curragh recently.
The Sprint G1 1200m has a field of 20 which should make it a cavalry charge led possibly by Kinross on 4/1 for Beckett and Rossa Ryan with Montassib on 11/2 for Haggas and Cieren Fallon and we like the stablemate Unequal Love with Tom Marquand up on 9/1 and provided he handles the going Beauvatier is coming from a very wet France and is on 12/1 Barberot-Pouchin. He's suffering from 3rd-it is so will be hoping to break this run with one at least better.
The F&M G1 is over 2300m (inner track) and has 14 starters. Kalpana is on 9/4 for Balding with Buick riding and since there is a reasonable field we are going a bit wider with Tiffany 13/2 for Sir Mark Prescott and Luke Morris, German raider Quantanamera from the in-form Suborics stable with Pasquier riding and on 12/1 Wingspan for O'Brien-Levey.
The Queen Elizabeth II is over 1600m and has a field of 13 led by Charyn on 6/4 for Varian-de Souza. Tamfana is racing in great form and is on 7/2 for Menuisier and Oisin Murphy and on 8/1 we have a raider whom we like a lot in Facteur Cheval Reynier-Guyon and on the same quote Prague from Dylan Cunha's yard with Dan Tudhope on board. We also have to admit to following Metropolitan and he's on 9/1 for Boratti-Demuro.
The Champion Stakes is over 2000m on the inner track and has 12 runners with an interesting clash between the UK's Economics on 6/4 and French raider Calandagan who has been working well at home for Graffard-Pasquier – both on 6/4 at this stage! Next best is Los Angeles 7/1 O'Brien-Moore.