3 minute read

The formation of a British Champions Day at Ascot in 2011 was fairly well-received among the wider racing community, with the meeting designed to provide a fitting climax to the domestic Flat season.

This move may have robbed Newmarket of one of its autumn highlights - namely the Champion Stakes which had been run under its previous guise at the track since 1877 - but the headquarters of British racing was rewarded with the advent of a Future Champions Weekend and the 2016 meeting gets underway with a competitive card on Friday, with the Group 2 Challenge Stakes and Group 1 Fillies' Mile topping the bill.

The current favourite for the Challenge Stakes is Cougar Mountain, who has proved tough to catch right over the last couple of seasons, but returned to something like his best with a smooth success in the Group 2 Joel Stakes over a mile here last time. He would hold sound claims if reproducing the same level of form on Friday, but his inconsistent profile means that is far from guaranteed and – forced to carry a 3 lb penalty for that latest victory – he makes little appeal at the odds currently available (9/2).

Cougar Mountain had one of his less productive days when finishing three and three-quarter lengths sixth behind Breton Rock in the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster last month. The good-topped Breton Rock can usually be relied upon to run his race at this level and should be involved at the finish as he attempts to improve on his second in this race 12 months ago. So Beloved (fourth) and Markaz (fifth) finished in a bunch in behind that day and are also engaged on Friday, but that trio are all fairly exposed now and the winner is more likely to emerge from an interesting group of three-year-olds.

Lumiere was an impressive winner of a listed race at the July Course in July and would have to enter calculations if bouncing back from a couple of below-par efforts since, while Aclaim is also respected given the progress he has made of late. He showed himself to be a smart performer when successful on his most recent outing in a listed race at Newbury and should be considered in his current mood.

However, marginal preference is for the John Gosden-trained Nathra. She was a comfortable winner of the Group 3 Nell Gwyn Stakes over this C&D in April and produced a career-best to finish a length second to the hugely exciting La Cressonniere in the French 1000 Guineas at Deauville the following month. There was some encouragement to be taken from her third in the Joel Stakes last time and – likely to improve with that first outing for three months under her belt – Nathra looks overpriced (10/1) in a competitive renewal of this Group 2 heat.

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The Fillies’ Mile has a similarly open look to it at the time of writing, with the first five in the betting all 5/1 or under. Sobetsu now leads the way with most firms and comes into Friday's race on the back of a most impressive victory over the C&D last time. She ran to an exceptional rating for a fillies' maiden that day, going clear on the bridle with three furlongs to run and certainly showing enough to suggest she was worth a try at this level as she put daylight between herself and the remainder.

She had previously finished behind Spatial when third on her racecourse debut at the July Course in August and will have the opportunity to try and reverse the form on Friday. Spatial was arguably value for more than the official winning margin on that occasion, though, travelling strongly into contention as the field entered the final two furlongs and quickly asserting her dominance under a hands-and-heels ride. She looks sure to relish the step up to a mile on breeding (by New Approach out of the smart miler Spacious) and is fancied to emulate Red Bloom, who won this race for the same connections in 2003.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained pair - Hydrangea and Rhododendron - are closely matched on form and neither can be ruled out for a yard that took this race with the brilliant Minding 12 months ago, but the main danger to Spatial may prove to be Rich Legacy. She showed a tenacious attitude to see off the attentions of Grecian Light in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last time and will appreciate the stiff test of stamina that this track presents.

Recommendations:

Back Nathra at 10/1 in the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket on Friday

Back Spatial at 9/2 in the Fillies' Mile at Newmarket on Friday