JOHN GOSDEN reckons Cracksman will find the trip no problem in Saturday’s QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot.
Gosden’s three-year-old drops back to a mile and a quarter for the first time since winning the Epsom Derby Trial.
“He has won over mile and a quarter and is bred to be more of a mile to a mile-and-a-quarter horse,” Gosden said.
“I think he has got the pace for it, (but) you would not want a falsely-run race.
“He has grown up a lot. He’s a bigger, stronger horse than he was in the spring and now weighs 17 kilograms more than when he went to Epsom in April.
“He’s done nothing but improve all year, so it would seem rather silly to bypass a race of this importance.”
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Barney Roy is looking to get back to winning ways after two good performances in defeat in the Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte International.
The Wiltshire handler told www.godolphin.com: “Barney Roy comes into this race fresh and well, having had a nice break since he ran at York.
“We took him for a spin around Kempton Park last week, which he has done before all his previous runs this season, and James Doyle was very pleased with him.
“I just hope that we don’t get too much rain, but we are very pleased with Barney Roy’s physical well-being and he looks in great nick.”
Sir Michael Stoute relies upon Irish Champion Stakes runner-up Poet’s Word.
Stoute said: “He will handle it with a bit of cut, but I don’t want it too soft. It was his best effort ever in Ireland. I was thrilled with him and he has really progressed.”
The Champion Stakes is one of the few major prizes to have so far eluded Aidan O’Brien, who sends six-time Group 1 winner Highland Reel and Cliffs Of Moher into battle this year.
Matt Chapman's TV tips
1.25 Ascot – Order Of St George: ‘No doubt in my mind the best stayer in the business’ (add to your betslip)
2.00 Ascot – Caravaggio: ‘He’s top class when on song’ (add to your betslip)
2.40 Ascot – Coronet: ‘Will be held up off the pace and might just come past them late on’ (add to your betslip)
3.15 Ascot – Ribchester: ‘The best miler about and should take all the beating’ (add to your betslip)
3.50 Ascot – Cliffs Of Moher: ‘A horse who has a huge success in him at some stage’ (add to your betslip)
4.30 Ascot – Stamp Hill: ‘If the ground came up very soft he could be a potent weapon’ (add to your betslip)
He said: “Highland Reel is in good form. He’s had a little break break since the King George (finished fourth) and seems in good form.
“It was very soft in the King George and hopefully it’s not too bad this time. Cliffs Of Moher just got caught in traffic at Leopardstown (sixth in Irish Champion Stakes) but is in good form.”
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