Ascot Tips Today: Expert Tips for Every Race on Champions Day

Satellite Of Love - 9/2 - 1pt

This progressive 2yo arrives in excellent form, having won three of his five starts, including both previous outings on good to firm ground. He has taken a significant step forward in his last two runs, most recently landing a valuable £104,000 Listed contest at Redcar two weeks ago.

He won with a bit in hand, beating a useful yardstick by just over a length despite jinking and losing momentum inside the final furlong. The fact that his jockey needed little more than hands and heels to get the job done only adds to the impression that there is more to come.

He had previously finished a close second at Doncaster behind a highly regarded rival who has since franked the form in a big race at Newmarket, while his earlier effort in a valuable sales race at York was also encouraging.

His ratings put him firmly in the argument for this conditions event, and with his proven effectiveness on the ground and an upward trajectory, he looks capable of making another bold bid.

Highwayman - 5/2 - 1pt

There hasn’t been a 3yo winner of this race since 2009 but HIGHWAYMAN (best priced at 5/2) looks to hold outstanding claims this year. Joseph O’Brien supplemented the colt for the race and his rise from winning a maiden when rated only 76 to winning the St Leger two starts later and achieving a rating of 117 is remarkable. 

Highwayman has stayed on strongly on both of his starts over 1m6f shaping like this step up in trip to 2 miles should suit him well and he looks the one to beat with Dylan Browne McMonagle back on board. 

Coppull - 11/1 - 0.5pts ew

Almeraq sets a high standard but looks worth taking on at a prohibitive price, particularly with the majority of recent winners of this contest having started at double-figure odds. Coppull appeals as the one capable of capitalising if the favourite falters. His latest run on heavy ground can be forgiven, while his previous effort at Newbury was that of a sprinter going places, as he landed the Hungerford Stakes in impressive fashion.

He has also shown he can compete at the highest level, finishing fourth in the July Cup before taking eighth in the Commonwealth Cup, where he won his group on the stands side despite that not appearing to be the favoured part of the track.

A return to better ground should see him in a much better light, while this stiff six furlongs looks an ideal test given his course-and-distance success and previous effectiveness over seven furlongs.

With the favourite dominating the market and Coppull offering a more attractive each-way alternative, he looks the strongest candidate to spring a surprise.

Danielle – 18/1 - 1pt ew (four places) 

Undoubtably, Kalpana sets the standard here on the figures with her victory in The King George, one of the standout 1m4f performances of the season.

However, she did have a hard race in the Arc recently and stall one has proved to be a stumbling block for many over the years on the round track, so she might not be the penalty kick she appears on paper.

Trying to find the right fit with the rest of the field isn’t easy but based on her run in this race last season and her performance in the Park Hill at Doncaster on her latest start, DANIELLE comes across as the percentage call from an each-way stance.

Following a slow beginning twelve months ago, John & Thady Gosden’s filly was held up towards the rear of the field in the early stages but she ended up being not very amenable to restraint and she wasted energy she could ill afford to lose.

To her great credit, she managed to finish off her race quite strongly, so much so, she ran the final three furlongs in exactly the same time as Kalpana (36.4).

Arriving her in great shape following her excellent display when runner-up to the improving, Waardah, on Town Moor, a more efficient passage through today’s race should result in an improvement on last year’s fifth position.

More Thunder - 9/1 - 0.75 pts ew

The Haggas star steps back up to the 1m trip following his first win of the campaign at Doncaster last month, but he has been unlucky to not have added more wins to his CV this season.

No more so than when running at this same venue at the Royal meeting when losing by a small margin to Ten Bob Tony and although he did not manage to win on that occasion it did confirm that he has no issue with the trip. 

He could be a horse that will finish the season with a flourish, and I would not be surprised to see him back up that success tomorrow and at current prices, he is presents a very good each-way value bet.

Calandagan - 11/5 - 1pt

Calandagan is one of the outstanding middle-distance performers in training and looks primed to land this Group 1 for the second successive year. The five-year-old has won 10 of his 18 starts, including six Group 1s in the last 18 months, underlining both his class and the skill of his French trainer in placing him to maximum effect.

He arrives having finished runner-up in a valuable £1.1m Group 1 over 12 furlongs, with that effort providing little reason to doubt his credentials dropping back to 10 furlongs. Indeed, he followed an identical preparation last season, returning from a 12-week break to win this race by more than two lengths.

His latest conqueror, Kalpana, is a top-class rival, but Calandagan has already shown he thrives in this company. Ombudsman, who finished second behind him in this race last year, was below his best on his latest outing, while Christophe Soumillon takes the reins once again.

With proven Group 1 class, a favourable preparation and last year's winning form to draw upon, Calandagan looks the one to beat as he bids to defend his crown.

Persica - 20/1 - 1pt ew

Plenty of course specialists on show in the traditional curtain closer and although you can not quite put PERSICA into that category just yet, Richard Hannon’s inmate has done more than enough here in the past to make him more than just a hopeful choice.

The five-year-old has been plying his trade against top-level opposition for the thick end of two years and his effort when third to the massively improving Talk Of New York at Newmarket last time out highlighted his overall consistency against Group 2/3 opposition.

If wanting to castigate him, you could argue he is better served by further than a mile nowadays but in mitigation, the ground at HQ would not have played into his strengths and the rain which has fallen in the last 24 hours is likely to bring his stamina more into play than was the case 22 days ago.

Moreover, his effort when fifth in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot has been advertised by the likes of Wimbledon Hawkeye, Galen, Survie and Enfjaar since and with his useful apprentice taking off 7lb, the son of New Bay gets to run in his first handicap for over two years - a race in which he won off 100 - off a workable mark.