Steve Ryder previews the Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot, taking a look at the trends, runners, and riders before providing his betting tip for the race.
British Champions Sprint Stakes
The Champions Sprint is a Group 1 over 6f which has been run at this meeting since its creation in 2011. It was previously named the Diadem Stakes and was upgraded to Group 1 status from 2015.
British Champions Sprint Stakes Winners, Trends & Stats
Muhaarar was the last Cartier Champion Sprinter to win this race in 2015 and since then the likes of Art Power (40/1), Donjuan Triumphant (33/1) and Sands Of Mali (28/1) have all won the race at big prices.
- 11 of the previous 12 winners had a rating of 112 or higher
- 11 of the previous 12 winners had at least 4 runs that season
- 10 of the previous 12 winners had at least 1 win at group level
- 10 of the previous 12 winners had at least 1 win that season
- 8 of the previous 12 winners were aged 4 or older
British Champions Sprint Stakes Runners Guide
LAZZAT
French raider who won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot beating several of his reopposing rivals. Beaten at Deauville in the Prix Maurice de Gheest and at Haydock in the Sprint Cup at short odds since and needs to bounce back to form to win this.
BIG MOJO
Won the Pavilion Stakes over this course and distance on his reappearance before finishing 7th in the Commonwealth Cup Stakes at Royal Ascot. He finished a close 2nd in the July Cup but was a beaten favourite in the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood on his next start prior to winning the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock last time.
KIND OF BLUE
Won this race last season having finished 2nd in the Sprint Cup at Haydock on his previous start and he has had the same preparation this season. His trainer has a fantastic record in the race but he faces much faster ground than his victory on soft ground last year.
MONTASSIB
William Haggas trained seven-year-old who defied odds of 25/1 to win the Sprint Cup at Haydock last season. He finished 5th beaten 2 ¼ lengths in this race on his next start on soft ground which has previously suited him well. Dropped back to 5f on his reappearance from 336 days off the track, he ran well to finish 3rd and should be suited by this step back up in distance.
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FLORA OF BERMUDA
Beaten only ½ length in this race last season when 3rd behind Kind Of Blue, the Andrew Balding trained filly should hold strong claims of winning it this year. Purchased by Wathnan Racing having finished 2nd on her reappearance, she finished 3rd behind Lazzat at Royal Ascot. She can be excused her run in the July Cup having reared at the start and bounced back when 3rd in the Sprint Cup behind Big Mojo and Kind Of Blue at Haydock.
RAYEVKA
Francis- Henri Graffard trained filly who finished a close 3rd in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot over this course and distance. She could only finish 7th in the Prix Maurice de Gheest on her next start before finishing 2nd in a Group 3 at Longchamp on her next start. Supplemented for this race at a cost of £37,500.
INISHERIN
Kevin Ryan trained colt who was an impressive winner of the Commonwealth Cup over this course and distance last season. He beat Flora Of Bermuda on his reappearance at York but has been below form on his next three starts.
British Champions Sprint Stakes Trainers & Jockeys To Watch
James Fanshawe has won this race three times previously with Deacon Blues (2011), The Tin Man (2016) and Kind Of Blue (2024). William Haggas has struggled with no winners from 10 runners in the race.
Wayne Lordan has won this race twice with Slade Power (2013) and Gordon Lord Byron (2014) and is the only jockey to have won this race more than once since it has been at this meeting.
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British Champions Sprint Stakes Odds
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Lazzat | 4/1 |
| Big Mojo | 5/1 |
| Kind Of Blue | 15/2 |
| Montassib | 8/1 |
| Flora of Bermuda | 11/1 |
| Rayevka | 14/1 |
| Inisherin | 16/1 |
British Champions Sprint Stakes Betting Tips
There have been lots of surprise results in this division this season as well as in this race as previously highlighted. I am willing to take a chance on WITNESS STAND (best priced at 66/1) who can hopefully emulate Kinross in winning this having won a Group 2 over 7f that season. The four-year-old defied odds of 25/1 to win the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood when City Of York Stakes runner-up Lake Forest was 2 ¾ lengths behind in 2nd.
Witness Stand then finished 2nd behind More Thunder under a penalty in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes when Marvelman, who has been supplemented for this race following a Group 2 victory last time, was behind in 3rd. He needs to bounce back from a poor run in France last time but he has shown plenty of pace that 6f shouldn’t be a problem and Colin Keane is a positive jockey booking.
