Saturday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

John & Thady Gosden hold a strong hand in this race with both Emily Upjohn and MIMIKYU (best priced at 13/2) towards the top of the market with preference going to the latter based on recent form. The three-year-old has looked headstrong throughout her career so far so it was encouraging to see the first time hood work so well when she won the Park Hill Stakes in impressive fashion last time beating the reopposing Eshaada easily in the end. 

Mimikyu is a full sister to Journey who won this race in 2016 and finished 2nd in 2015 and who showed all of her best form in a hood in her career. She has an official rating of 112 which puts her only 3lbs behind stablemate Emily Upjohn who has question marks to answer following her flop in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes over this course and distance last time and I expect her to run well with up to five places on offer. 

The Francis- Henri Graffard trained THE REVENANT (best priced at 11/2) runs in this race for the fourth time and he should once again run well in the contest. The seven-year-old gelding finished a close 2nd in this race in 2019, won it in 2020 before finishing 4th behind Baaeed in the contest last year. He returned this season with two victories at Saint Cloud before finding the ground slightly too quick in the Prix du Moulin following a mid season break. 

The Revenant finished a close 2nd behind Erevann in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein last time despite making his challenge down the outside and conditions should once again suit him well in this race. 

Baaeed will no doubt prove hard to beat in the Champion Stakes but I feel the value in the race is BAY BRIDGE (best priced at 3/1) in the without market. The Sir Michael Stoute trained four-year-old has run below form on his previous two starts on good to firm ground but should be better suited by the conditions in this race. He won the Brigadier Gerard Stakes on his reappearance at Sandown by five lengths before finishing a close 2nd in the Prince Of Wales’ Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Bay Bridge disappointed when only 5th in the Coral Eclipse last time but he now returns from a 105 day break and he should be able to chase home Baaeed.