One of the most intriguing contests at the 2024 British Champions Day fixture comes in the signature event for the superstar milers. Can Charyn end a spectacular season on a high? Will France land the prize once again? How big an influence will the expected soft ground have on the result?
With that last question in mind, we present a rundown of runners who have displayed at least some ability to handle testing conditions in the past.
Charyn – 11/10 with bet365
Trainer: Roger Varian
Sire: Dark Angel
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 12883312
Hot favourite for the race and does cope with soft, as evidenced by a 66.66% win and place percentage on the surface. Whether he is at his best when the mud is flying isn’t so conclusive, with both Group 1 wins coming on good ground or better.
Tamfana – 8/1 with bet365
Trainer: David Menuisier
Sire: Soldier Hollow
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 3134
Similar comments apply to this three-year-old from the David Menuisier operation. She did win a Group 3 on heavy as a two-year-old, but her peak efforts from 2024 have come on good to soft or quicker.
Facteur Cheval – 8/1 with bet365
Trainer: Jerome Reynier
Sire: Ribchester
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 11413222
Second behind Big Rock on soft ground in the 2023 edition of this, Facteur Cheval invariably runs his race, whatever the conditions. His only Group 1 win came on good ground, but he mastered Tribalist on heavy in the Group 3 Prix Perth, with that runner upsetting Charyn in the Prix du Moulin.
Metropolitan– 8/1 with bet365
Trainer:Mario Baratti
Sire: Zarak
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 151
The 2024 Poules d’Essai des Poulins (French 2000 Guineas) winner boasts solid form on soft, with his only defeat coming on his return from a 218-day break. He stayed on for second behind Charyn in a good ground Jacques Le Marois last time but may get closer on slower ground.
Prague – 8/1 with bet365
Trainer: Dylan Cunha
Sire: Galileo
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 1
Unraced during his stay at the yard of Aidan O’Brien, this Galileo colt has progressed with every start for Dylan Cunha in 2024. Recording a breakthrough success in a soft ground Joel Stakes last time, connections have stumped up the late supplementary fee to take a shot at this prize.
Dancing Gemini – 33/1 with bet365
Trainer: Roger Teal
Sire: Camelot
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 1526
Camelot is already enjoying a memorable season as a sire, thanks to the exploits of Los Angeles and Bluestocking. Roger Teal will hope some of that success rubs off on the likeable Dancing Gemini. He’s yet to win at beyond 7f, but caught the eye when a fast finishing second to Metropolitan over 1m on soft ground at Longchamp.
Ice Max – 50/1 with bet365
Trainer: Karl Burke
Sire: Dark Angel
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 4751414
Sharing a sire with the favourite, Ice Max has been in and out on soft ground, but that aligns with his inconsistent overall profile. He’s a Group 2 winner over this trip on soft but needs to bounce back from a shocking display behind Prague last time.
Poker Face – 66/1 with bet365
Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford
Sire: Fastnet Rock
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 41222
Hot on the heels of Manxman’s Cesarewitch triumph, Simon & Ed Crisford bid for more big race success with this Edward Ware-owned runner. He’s hard to fault for consistency in these conditions and is a Group 2 winner at the distance, but has 3¾l to find with Prague on their recent clash at Newmarket.
Royal Scotsman – 66/1 with bet365
Trainer: Paul & Oliver Cole
Sire: Gleneagles
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 3
Having finished a solid third in the 2023 edition of the 2000 Guineas, it is a little surprising that Royal Scotsman has won only one of six starts since. That said, he ran well to finish second to Topgear last time and that Guineas display came on his only previous encounter with soft.
Sirona – 50/1 with bet365
Trainer: David Menuisier
Sire: Soldier Hollow
Form Figures on Soft or Worse Going: 2411
Tamfana is the yard number one in this event but looks set to be joined by fellow filly Sirona. Since joining Menuisier in May 2024, Sirona has hit the frame in four of six starts and bounced back to winning ways in a heavy ground Listed event at Newmarket last time.
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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