Martin Dixon Saturday tips: Professor has the answers

With doubts over the true worth of Kalpana's romp at Kempton and the likes of Content and Queen Of The Pride coming off the back of below-par runs, I think the Fillies and Mares is one of the most open races on Champions Day. 

Wingspan isn't quite such a high-profile filly as those rivals just yet but she's steadily progressed and showed a willing attitude in defeat in the Blandford Stakes last time, rallying at the line having been headed. 

Her dam, Hydrangea, won this race in 2017 when stepping up to 1m 4f for the first time and Wingspan attempts to follow in her footsteps. I believe the longer trip will suit her, too, and she's already a winner on heavy ground. I'll be backing her each way, with most bookmakers offering four places 1/5 odds. 

When Mr Professor won the Lincoln in the spring he was returning from a 135-day break and won with authority on very testing ground. 

There's no question that he saves his best efforts nowadays for soft/heavy going, which he'll get again for the first time since Doncaster, and I do wonder as well if catching him fresh is also a positive so the 121-day break since he finished down the field at Royal Ascot certainly doesn't put me off. 

He's drawn in stall 4 and three winners of this since 2015 have jumped from that gate. It's also worth noting that this race was dominated by lower draws last year. 

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A prominent position around Catterick over 7f is often an advantage and in a race in which there doesn't look to be much pace Mister Sox ought to have a plum spot either leading or close up. 

He's been very consistent of late, looks ready for a return to this longer trip and has gained both of his career wins at this course. I think he will be hard to beat with this set-up and is my nap of the day. 

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Changeofmind hasn't won since April 2023 but his mark has edged down to its lowest yet and there have been promising signs on both his recent starts on testing ground. 

At Hamilton in August he was edged out only late on by Moonstone Boy, who was thriving at that time, and then on his most recent start at Haydock he wasn't beaten far despite racing on the wrong part of the track. He won very easily on his only previous visit to Catterick and I think he's now well treated on that previous course form.