Saturday's Best Bets: Champions Day joy for Barney Roy

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Tippin’ Jimmy talks us through all of his fancies from Champions Day, and other strong tips from selected meetings around the country.

1:25 (Long Distance Cup) – Order Of St George (10/11)

I think Big Orange will be a non-runner here, and I hope Order is restored in the curtain raiser at Ascot today. He is clearly the most talented here, and his nine length Irish St Leger romp was truly brilliant. His most recent Arc form also sets such a high standard, and if he is fit and primed for this test then he shouldn’t be beaten.

2:00 (Sprint) – Harry Angel (5/4)

I went against Harry Angel in the Sprint Cup, thinking he wouldn’t handle the ground; but he was simply breathtaking and I am firmly sticking with him now. He has rapidly progressed to become the best sprinter around, and if he continues to run to that level of form he will prove a tough horse to beat here. Caravaggio on his best form is of course a huge danger.

2:40 (Fillies & Mares) – Hydrangea (15/2)

Team Ballydoyle are getting ever closer to that record breaking win, and Hydrangea could be the one for them today. She has steadily been improving, and raised her level of form to a new level when beating Winter in the Matron. She finished a narrow loser in France last time out, and as long as the run hasn’t come too soon she could go well again with the longer trip and soft ground hopefully suiting her.

3:15 (Queen Elizabeth) – Ribchester (2/1)

Ribchester for me has been the best and most consistent miler this season, and he deserves to add this prize to his glowing CV. He bounced back from his Glorious Goodwood defeat to win well in a Chantilly Group One, and has had a fair break since. He loves the track, is the quality runner in the race, and should run a huge race.

3:50 (Champion Stakes) – Barney Roy (5/1)

I am a really big fan of Barney Roy and I would love to see him strike at Group One level again for Richard Hannon. The three-year-old was a superb winner of the St James’ here and has ran well in two starts since. He’s suited to the trip, much more than main rival Cracksman. Reports from home are as confident forever and hopefully he can take the big one.

4:30 (Balmoral) – Zabeel Prince (7/2) , The Grape Escape (11/1) ew 

This is a Group class horse in the making, and hopefully he will show it today. Roger Varian’s four-year-old has won three from three this season, including a dominant and comfortable success at York last week. He is set to rise up the weights even further, and can utilise this mark to land the big prize today.

The Grape Escape is another improving sort for Richard Hannon. He seeks a hat-trick after wins at Sandown and Pontefract. He should enjoy the conditions, and can play a leading role in this today.

Best Of The Rest

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Gary Moore's Eragon De Chanay is strongly fancied to go well at Ffos Las today

1:40 Market Rasen – Not That Fuisse (5/6) NAP

Dan Skelton’s four-year-old is a smart horse in the making, and he should be making a winning start to life over hurdles here today. He looked both exciting and mature when winning by four lengths on his debut bumper win, and always shaped like a horse to improve over hurdles. This is an ideal starting point, and he has a big future ahead of him.

2:45 Ffos Las – Eragon De Chanay (5/6)

Eragon De Chanay was a tip I gave a few weeks back, and he picked up some each-way money when third that day. He may have needed that run for fitness purposes, and should improve from the experience for Gary Moore. This is a little less competitive, and returning to soft ground may act in his favour today too.

3:35 Stratford – Capeland (11/4)

Capeland is a handicapper worth watching this season, and I think he has a few wins in him before the handicapper gets hold of him. He should like the track, ground and continues to progress over hurdles. Like some of his rivals, he hasn’t been seen for a while but he has experience of running well fresh and I would be confident he’s worth a bet on today.

4:05 Catterick – Northwest Frontier (7/2)

Sometimes in horse racing you stay loyal to a horse even though they keep putting a hole in your pocket, and Northwest Frontier can repay my faith today. He is a big horse for Richard Fahey, who hasn’t shown his full ability on the racecourse just yet. He was a poor fourth at Ayr last time out, when struggling in the heavy ground. He has dropped a 1lb, is on better ground, and if he brings his best he will be very competitive.

7:15 Wolverhampton – Yaafour (9/4)

Yaafour has by far the best form in the book here, and looked a smart horse when winning at Lingfield back in August. His Salisbury third, and fifth place finish in a competitive Newmarket handicap puts him well above these. He should be up to winning quite easily here.