The sprinters take to the stage in race two on Champions Day, in a race which has witnessed three 28/1+ winners in the last six years. With the rain arriving in Berkshire, could we be in for another surprise in 2024?
Continuing our soft ground series, we outline the credentials of those contenders who have demonstrated an ability to handle soft ground in the past.
Kinross – 7/2 with bet365
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Sire: Kingman
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 41541122
All three of Kinross’s soft ground wins have come over his favoured 7f trip, but he went down by just a neck in a soft ground edition of this event twelve months ago. Having bounced back to form in his last two outings, he currently heads the market.
Montassib – 9/2 with bet365
Trainer: William Haggas
Sire: Exceed And Excel
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 01111
This year’s Haydock Sprint Cup winner didn’t appear to enjoy the heavy ground when well adrift in the 2023 Lincoln but is four from four on soft, including the Listed Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster.
Mill Stream – 9/1 with bet365
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam
Sire: Gleneagles
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 118
This four-year-old earned a breakthrough Group 1 success in the July Cup and has hit the frame in four of five starts this season. A two-from-three record on soft reads well, but that eighth-placed effort came in the 2023 edition of this race.
Beauvatier – 12/1 with bet365
Trainer: Yann Barberot
Sire: Lope De Vega
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 112033
Having finished third in each of his last four starts, this French raider scores top marks for consistency but is yet to win at above Group 3 level. Nevertheless, he’s a strong stayer at this trip and should be keeping on when others have cried enough.
Elite Status – 16/1 with bet365
Trainer: Karl Burke
Sire: Havana Grey
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 110
As a pattern class winner on ground ranging from soft to good to firm, this three-year-old appears to have no ground preference. On the downside, he’s zero from two in Group 1 company and has 5¼l to find with Montassib on their Sprint Cup running.
James’s Delight – 20/1 with bet365
Trainer: Clive Cox
Sire: Invincible Army
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 5112
Barring two below-par efforts at Newbury, this three-year-old has sparked into life following a gelding operation – winning four of seven starts, including two on soft or heavy ground. This is his first crack at Group 1 company, but he arrives on the back of a career-best effort in the Prix de Meutry.
Spycatcher – 16/1 with bet365
Trainer: Karl Burke
Sire: Vadamos
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 281412331
This Karl Burke six-year-old finished one spot ahead of James’s Delight at Deauville to pick up his second Group 3 victory. He has yet to score at the top level but came close when second in the 2023 Prix Maurice de Gheest and third in the 2023 edition of this.
Annaf – 20/1 with bet365
Trainer: Michael Appleby
Sire: Muhaarar
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 13
Michael Appleby has already enjoyed an excellent season in the sprint division, and with a couple of live chances at the Breeders’ Cup Meeting, he may not be done yet. Before that, he sends this dual Group winner into battle here. All three pattern successes have come on good or quicker, but his soft ground record suggests the going may not dent his chances.
Art Power – 20/1 with bet365
Trainer: Tim Easterby
Sire: Dark Angel
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 1144313151
This admirable performer got up by a neck to deny Kinross in the 2023 edition, taking his record over this course and distance on soft ground to 431, with each of those efforts coming in top-tier Group 1 events.
Bucanero Fuerte – 20/1 with bet365
Trainer: Aidan Murray
Sire: Wootton Bassett
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 1
It’s hard to draw firm conclusions from one soft ground effort but equally difficult to draw a line through a runner who cantered to victory on his only previous outing on this sort of ground. Third in the 2023 Coventry, he goes well at this track and is a Group 1 winner at the trip, having claimed the 2023 National Stakes.
Vadream – 33/1 with bet365
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes
Sire: Brazen Beau
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 3713117834
For a horse renowned as a mudlark, a 60% win or place strike rate on soft or worse is a little less than we expected. Nevertheless, this six-year-old mare is capable of going well in her fourth crack at this – previous form figures in this race reading 567.
Moss Tucker – 40/1 with bet365
Trainer: Ken Condon
Sire: Excelebration
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 11515130
Having failed to finish in the top eight in three efforts so far this season, this Irish raider is hard to recommend on current form but does go on soft, having landed two soft/heavy ground Listed events.
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
Paul Harrison
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