British Champions Sprint Stakes Trends

The newest group one on QIPCO British Champions Day is the £600,000 British Champions Sprint Stakes. Promoted to the top level in 2015, it has been billed as the crowning moment of the Champion Sprinter in Europe for the season. While it has not lived up to those expectations yet, it’s nonetheless and extremely competitive renewal this year. Here are some trends to look at for the 2018 version.

As expected, the autumnal ground will come up soft this Saturday at the Berkshire venue, just as it had done for the majority of Champions Day’s so far. The summer heatwave has meant horses who have liked to hear their hooves rattle have been doing the majority of racing this season, with some frustratingly sitting out the bulk of the season. The soft ground will play into the hands of the majority of the market leaders – currently headed by The Tin Man at 3/1 – including Harry Angel, last year’s winner Librisa Breeze, Brando and Tasleet. However, the weather woes will continue for Limato. Henry Candy’s stable star needs good ground or better, and the deluges have left him friendless in the trends, but it is likely he will not turn up.

A quite typical and common trend, but horses who have tended to excel over this course seemingly have an upper hand on their rivals. The past three winners: Muhaarar, The Tin Man and Librisa Breeze, all put up seriously impressive performances before going on to strike in this race. The last two winners are back again and their performances will be hot in the mind of punters on the day. But, this doesn’t bode well for both Harry Angel and Brando, who are yet to break their ducks here, most notably Harry Angel though, who seems to have an Ascot hoodoo on his back.

There hasn’t been many shocks in this race, with only last year’s winner Librisa Breeze returning with the longest SP at 12/1. While the market is likely to become slightly more volatile as the week goes on the weather plays its hands yet again, the trend only currently credits The Tin Man, Harry Angel, Librisa Breeze, Brando and Tasleet from the 17 runners entered. However, the last two favourites have badly disappointed in the race (Quiet Reflection and Shalaa in 2016, Harry Angel last year) so punters may be wary in backing The Tin Man here.

It is likely to be another ultra-competitive renewal of the Champions Sprint, but all the trends are pointing towards the way of LIBRISA BREEZE, who is aiming to become the first dual winner of the race in its modern history (Jack and Jill won the race twice when it was named the Diadem Stakes). Dean Ivory’s stable star hasn’t had the rub of the green this season, both in races and the ground. An extreme hold up horse, the grey has finally got all of the factors falling into place for the biggest moment of his career, and it would be no shock if we see him scythe his way through the field in the mud to take Champions Sprint glory.