The Group 1 Champion Stakes is the feature race on Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday with a maximum field of eleven. That number is likely to be reduced further after persistent rained turned the going to heavy by midweek.
The quality of the race is certainly not up to standard following the enforced retirement of Derby winner Australia. Several other leading contenders have also fallen by the wayside and second favourite Free Eagle could join them unless the going improves by Saturday morning. Dermot Weld has already said that his lightly-raced colt will not be risked on heavy ground.
One trainer who is not overly concerned by the weather is Madame Barande-Barbe who has aimed Cirrus Des Aigles at this race for some time. Formerly the top rated racehorse in the world, the eight-year-old won this race in 2011 and has finished runner-up for the past two seasons. He has been first past the post in his last four races, although he was subsequently disqualified at Longchamp for causing interference.
His winning margin of a head over Fractional is not earth-shattering form but it was his first run since beating Flintshire in the Coronation Cup at Epsom in the summer. He pulled up with an injury that day and will surely improve for his comeback race. Last year’s Derby winner Ruler Of The World gained his first win since his classic triumph when winning the Prix Foy under a front-running ride from Frankie Dettori. He was unable to repeat that effort in the Arc when finishing fifth behind Treve and I am not convinced that he really likes deep ground.
Noble Mission has lived under the tag of Frankel’s brother throughout his racing career but has not done too badly himself. He is probably not within 20lbs of his brother but could follow his sibling into the history books in this prestigious race. He has won two Group 1 races this season and was just beaten in a slog last time out. He has been the mainstay of Lady Cecil’s yard in a disappointing season and will put up his usual game display.
Free Eagle has a lot to prove even if he does run and it is very difficult to make a case for anything else. Al Kazeem does not seem to be the force that he was last season while Sheikhzayedroad and Pethers Moon are grand servants to their respective connections but have never looked up to Group 1 class. Cirrus Des Aigles may be in the autumn of his illustrious career but he should still be too good for these.
Cirrus Des Aigles @6-4 Skybet
