Champions Day tips: Outsiders to consider at 33-1, 18-1, 12-1, and 10-1

After winning the first ever running of this race last year, Aidan O'Brien's sole runner this season should not be discounted. The son of No Nay Never and Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Millisle was sent off the 2-1 favourite for the Coventry Stakes over this course and distance at the Royal meeting and, though he could only finish sixth, he was beaten less than two lengths by winning stablemate Great Barrier Reef.

He was subsequently a beaten favourite twice more, but shaped with promise nevertheless and he can be forgiven his last place finish in the Group One Middle Park Stakes last time where he was always on the back foot and looked unbalanced by the undulations of the Rowley Mile.

The addition of first-time blinkers did not seem to have the desired affect at Newmarket, but those are removed here in what is a weaker contest and Ryan Moore is back in the saddle. He is also sure to strip fitter for that that run, which came after a 70-day break, and this looks just the sort of race where he could bounce back to form.

Impressive St Leger winner Highwayman bids to become the first three-year-old to win the Long Distance Cup for 17 years and though he clearly has a strong chance, he is not proven at the trip and takes on his elders for the first time.

It could be looks worth taking him on with the ultra-consistent Queenstown, who is a best-priced 10-1. Aidan O’Brien’s six-year-old is lightly-raced this year and has showed career best form on the past two occasion; firstly when finishing second in the Irish St Leger behind Scandinavia and then when finishing third in the Prix du Cadran behind that same rival, plus Longchamp specialist Caballo De Mar.

This drop back to two miles looks in his favour and Ryan Moore takes over for the first time since he finished third last year’s Ebor. Given the question marks surrounding plenty of the runners in this race, he looks worth siding with each-way and could be hard to pass.

If there is one horse that is there to be taken on at Ascot on Saturday then it looks to be Almeraq. The William Haggas-trained colt has been a revelation this year, winning two Group One contests, including at this track, but he faces totally different ground conditions to his impressive Sprint Cup win and is as short as 11-8 in a 16-runner sprint.

Already advised for this race, I remain keen on the each-way chances of Mitbaahy, who is a best-priced 33-1 at the time of writing. Confidence in the selections has increased given the forecast pace and conditions, plus the eye-catching booking of Saffie Osborne, who rides the straight course at Ascot almost better than anyone in the weighing room.

Mitbaahy is relatively lightly-raced in recent years and was particularly eye-catching at Kempton last month when he stayed on well from the rear to finish within a length of the winner Kind Of Blue.

He had previously missed the break in the course and distance Wokingham Stakes at the Royal meeting but did well to finish fifth, beaten just over two lengths by the rapidly progressive Double Rush.

He then ran a huge race at Glorious Goodwood where he finished third in the Stewards' Cup, faring best of those from a high draw and finishing first in his group.

Charlie Hills has won this race before and, given he mentioned the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest as a potential target for Mitbaahy after his Goodwood run, he is clearly highly regarded. Expect him to come fast and late.

If the best of Kalpana turns up at Ascot then Andrew Balding’s mare should bag the Fillies and Mares for a third successive year.

A winner of the King George over course and distance, she holds leading form claims, but she has had a hard campaign, with a tough race in the Yorkshire Oaks and then another serious workout when fifth in the Arc 13 days ago.

There is a chance those efforts have left a mark, and if she is below her best, there are plenty of talented mares in the field who could take advantage.

Last year’s fifth Danielle can fare much better this year and looks overpriced at 18-1 having finished an excellent second to Waardah in the Park Hill at Doncaster last month.

The general consensus is that she needs soft ground, and whilst she clearly does handle some cut, she has performed well on good ground on more than one occasion, including when winning the Bronte Cup at York on her seasonal reappearance.

The daughter of dual Champion Stakes hero Cracksman has a nice draw in stall eight and she has been lightly raced this year. The step back to a mile and a half should pose no problems and she is fully capable of outrunning her current odds. 

Jamie Osborne picked up this son of Free Eagle for just 26,000gns in 2024 and he has subsequently been risen 13lb by the handicapper courtesy of four victories, plus a number of other creditable efforts in defeat.

All four of those wins have come at Ascot, so he is of immediate interest back at this track with the excellent Saffie Osborne back on board.

The eight-year-old has been in career best form this season and his hold-up style is perfectly suited to a cavalry charge down the straight course.

An impressive winner over course and distance last month, he could have followed up at the same course two weeks ago over seven furlongs, but got no kind of run through and did not have chance to make a serious challenge. He has a positive draw in stall 22 and can make amends here off the same mark.