Horse Racing
Season
British Champions Sprint Stakes – Form Comments
G1 – 1200m – Turf
| 1 | Bacchus | Made no show in a G1 at Deauville in early August. Has had a mini-break since then but that is no concern as he posted a career best performance when returning from a 260-day break to score a shock win in a Royal Ascot handicap in June. This sprint has an open look about it. |
| 2 | Brando | An eight-times winner including a G1 triumph over 1300m at Deauville last year, later finishing 4.5L 6th to Librisa Breeze in this event. Twice second in G1 company in 2018 including close behind The Tin Man at Haydock last month. Finishes fast. |
| 3 | Donjuan Triumphant | His last win (a handicap over this distance) was over a year ago. However there have been some good efforts, notably when only 2.25L 4th to The Tin Man in a G1 at Haydock last month, doing his best work at the finish. The heavy ground there was his ideal surface. |
| 4 | Dream Of Dreams | Despite some good efforts his winning record in Group race company is 0-9. Only narrowly beaten in his last three starts, he was formerly slow from the gates but that problem seems resolved now and he is usually ridden aggressively these days, sometimes leading early. |
| 5 | Harry Angel | Favourite for this last year but reared at the gate and then raced too freely, finishing 4th of 12. Twice a G1 winner – both at this distance – he again raced too keenly at Haydock last time, running out of gas late on. Drying ground would be helpful. |
| 6 | Librisa Breeze | Everything fell right for him in this race last year when he was delivered late from off a strong pace, his stamina (he has won over further) helped by the slow ground. Has not looked at his best in any of his four starts since so a revival is required. It’s possible. |
| 7 | Limato | A past G1 winning performer who has often been written off but the fact that he has won his last three races – including a G2 at Newmarket (1400m) recently – show he is still a force to be reckoned with. However soft ground is a very big problem – he loves it fast. |
| 8 | Projection | Four of his 18 starts have been over this course and distance, running well each time and he warmed up for this when beating three rivals in a G3 here earlier this month. That was on soft ground even though his trainer is convinced that he is best on a quicker surface. |
| 9 | Sir Dancealot | Had an excellent spell in the summer, winning 1400m G2’s at Goodwood and Newbury, both gained after his trademark late finish. Ran a respectable 5th in a 1400m G1 at Longchamp earlier this month. Also effective over 1200m, but slow ground an issue. |
| 10 | Son Of Rest | Two starts back he improved massively on his previous exploits when a close second in a 1000m G1 at The Curragh. He was then a major gamble for a prestigious 1200m sprint handicap at Ayr, quickening away from his 24 rivals only to be joined on the line for a dead-heat. Soft ground required. |
| 11 | Tasleet | Ran a very good 2nd to Librisa Breeze on slow ground in this event last year and has only raced twice since. Most recently he could never get competitive when only 8th behind The Tin Man at Haydock last month. He should be sharper this time. |
| 12 | The Tin Man | Only 5th in this last year when the soft ground may have blunted his speed, but he had won it after showing a brilliant burst of speed from off the pace in 2016. Back in winning G1 form at Haydock last time, not worrying about the heavy ground then. Looks the one to beat. |
| 13 | Sands Of Mali | Had an excellent start to the season winning a G3 and a G2, then looking an unlucky 2nd of 22 in a G1 at Royal Ascot – all those races at this distance. Soundly beaten in two G1’s subsequently but his 3.5L 5th to The Tin Man at Haydock was a step back in the right direction. |
| 14 | Speak In Colours | Gradually got on top of his rivals to land a G3 over 1200m at The Curragh on his penultimate start – in August. He then finished 5.25L 7th in a G1 at Haydock last month but winner The Tin Man and four other of Saturday’s rivals finished ahead of him. |
Others
19/10/2018
19/10/2018
