After a sensational run when winning the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on September 10, French Derby hero Almanzor is all set to run in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 15.
Although the colt was originally among the favourites for Sunday’s Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly, trainer Jean-Claude Rouget indicated immediately after Leopardstown that the Ascot race was his preferred target, and the 3-year-old has now been all but confirmed as a runner on British Champions Day.
Almanzor, 2-1 favourite for the Champion with bookmakers Coral, could face strong competition in the shape of the rejuvenated Jack Hobbs, with the 2015 Irish Derby winner out to get his career back on track after suffering a cracked pelvis. He is currently a 12-1 shot with Coral, due to his absence for most of this season.
Elsewhere in horse betting at Coral, Success Days remains on course for Ascot, despite being well beaten at Leopardstown. The Ken Condon-trained 4-year-old is a 40-1 chance to cause an upset.
On that same British Champions Day card, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is building up to be one of the races of the meeting. Lightning Spear will be aiming to overcome current favourites Ribchester and Galileo Gold, having finished behind both in the Sussex Stakes and Prix Jacques le Marois. David Simcock’s horse gained a first victory of the season in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood, and is just 10-1 to earn another win at Ascot.
He could be joined at Ascot by stablemate Breton Rock, who will head to Newmarket on October 7 for the Group 2 Dubai 100 Challenge Stakes in a bid to follow up his success in the recent Park Stakes at Doncaster.