It’s a huge day at Ascot and I reckon the French can have a big day – including with this 13-2 shot

SINCE the French last won a Group 1 in the UK, they have been thumped by Argentina in the World Cup and of course endured agony in defeat in Rugby’s equivalent.

But I’m hoping the va va voom will be back with our Gallic friends at Ascot.

Matt Chapman on 07/10/2020 for Sun Racing.News Group Newspapers Ltd.

It is, of course, the big Champions Day meeting with all races live on ITV, and France has leading Group 1 Qipco Champion Stakes contender Horizon Dore and Big Rock in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes to look forward to.

It’s the latter who interests me, taking on one of the finds of the season in St James’s Palace Stakes and Eclipse hero Paddington, Irish 1000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes victor Tahiyra and star older filly Nashwa.

Vadeni was the last French-trained Group 1 winner in the UK, landing the 2022 Eclipse, while Sealiway landed the 2021 Champion Stakes and The Revenant the 2020 QEII.

But, Arc hero Ace Impact apart, in general the French have been quiet over the last few years.

Of course, we are all expecting testing ground, and that suits Big Rock like a fine onion soup goes a treat with frogs legs.

I can’t have Big Rock out the first three for French trainer Christopher Head and Aurelien Lemaitre, who has the chance to show British racegoers he is much better than he looked at Glorious Goodwood!

BIG ROCK is a Group race winner on heavy and on his last two starts chased home Inspiral in the Group 1 Jacques le Marois and Sauterne in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin. He stays a bit further and can race up with the pace so he’s going to be hard to pass.

Horizon Dore runs in the colours of Sealiway and might not be a familiar name with all of you – but he is improving fast. The Patrice Cottier-handled inmate is on a five-timer and came with a strong late thrust to take the Group 2 Qatar Prix Dollar at Longchamp on September 30.

There’s no doubt the gelded son of Dabirsim is a big player, but so too is Derby runner-up King Of Steel and mud-loving Via Sistina.

That said, it’s defending champion BAY BRIDGE who will have everything in his favour to run a huge one and might be an each-way price.

The Sir Michael Stoute inmate has not had his perfect conditions – a mile and a quarter with juice – since a fine third in the Prix Ganay when he was in need of the outing and having his comeback.

His sixth in the Arc was far from a disgrace despite pulling hard early and Richard Kingscote should get a great spin.

The day starts with ITV the Group 2 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup over two miles.

I’m hoping all eight go to post here and am happy to take an each-way chance with SWEET WILLIAM for John and Thady Gosden and Robert Havlin.

On paper my selection has plenty to find with Kyprios, Trueshan and Coltrane, but he finished in front of the latter at Doncaster last time and in that Doncaster Cup was racing away from Trueshan, which would not have sorted a horse who has his quirks. He’ll love every drop of rain.

The first of the Group 1s is the Qipco British Champions Sprint over six furlongs. Vadream is interesting in mud, but I don’t see any reason why KINROSS won’t go and win this for the second year in a row for Ralph Beckett and Frankie Dettori. The selection goes well in the mud.

In the Group 1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares over a mile and a half I’m interested in BLUESTOCKING each-way with the cheekpieces on first time.

My selection goes for Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan has proven stamina and has run well all season, including when third in the Ribblesdale, second in the Irish Oaks and fourth in the Yorkshire Oaks where Free Wind was a couple of places in front.

Finally the Balmoral Handicap over a mile. I’m having a few quid on two here in BARADAR and LATTAM.

Baradar did this column a great favour when scoring at Ascot at 16-1 in July and went in again at Doncaster. He’s now up 9lb from the Ascot success which might stop him. But he’s an improving beast for George Boughey and William Buick.

Lattam comes into it on heavy ground. It’s not been soft enough for him recently, but he hasn’t been disgraced for William Haggas at Goodwood and York. Cheekpieces go on now with Cieren Fallon on top. If it’s heavy – near unraceable – he might surprise some.

Let’s hope for a ‘big’ day!

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