Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Saturday, 18 October 2025

ASCOT QIPCO CHAMPIONS’ DAY BEST BETS SATURDAY

Race 1 QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS LONG DISTANCE CUP (Group 1)

No3 TRAWLERMAN
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: William Buick

Buick’s first ride from a book to treasure is the shortest priced horse on the card and should make no mistake. TRAWLERMAN makes a fourth consecutive appearance in this race and is at prohibitive odds to repeat his 2023 triumph.

He couldn’t match Kyprios and SWEET WILLIAM 12 months ago, but with that foe forced into retirement he’s made hay with three straight successes this year numbering the Henry II Stakes, the Gold Cup and the Lonsdale Cup.

He readily saw off Sweet William at York and on this occasion could find unexposed three-year-old STAY TRUE his man barrier to another victory.

Prediction: 1st TRAWLERMAN, 2nd Stay True, 3rd Sweet William

Race 2 QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS DAY TWO-YEAR-OLD CONDITIONS STAKES

No12 WORDS OF TRUTH (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick

WORDS OF TRUTH downed a very good opponent in Into The Sky to complete a hat-trick in the Group 2 Mill Reef at Newbury when the principals pulled a long way clear. Since being gelded the Godolphin-owned galloper has rapidly risen up the tanks and brings outstanding claims to the party as the best bet on the card.

Aidan O’Brien fields MISSION CENTRAL and KANSAS, with the former looking to regain the initiative after fading in the closing stages of a Doncaster Group 2.

SIR ALBERT brings winning handicap form to the table, though he did run well to place in a blanket finish to a Listed race at Doncaster which has worked out.

This leaves DIVISION as the main threat to the Nap. He’s upwardly mobile and was most impressive in taking out a Listed race at York in which he completed a hat-trick for William Haggas.

Prediction: 1st WORDS OF TRUTH, 2nd Division, 3rd Mission Central, 4th Kansas, 5th Sir Albert

Race 3 QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SPRINT STAKES (Group 1)

No17 FLORA OF BERMUDA (Each Way)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy

On what could prove a red-letter day for Park House Stables the value play in this very open sprint is FLORA OF BERMUDA. The Dark Angel filly hasn’t managed to put her head in front in four 2025 outings so far but she’s operated well in Group 1 company, especially when getting onto the podium in both the Jubilee over this course and distance in June, and the Haydock Sprint Cup.

MONTASSIB has attracted plenty of support in the ante post market for this based on an eye taking return at Newbury and granted his successes in both Group 1 and 2 company has to be taken seriously.

James Fanshawe excels with his sprinters in the autumn and that’s a good reason to include KIND OF BLUE in all permutations, while a couple that could outperform their massive odds with Hollywoodbets are RUN TO FREEDOM and SPY CHIEF.

Prediction: 1st FLORA OF BERMUDA, 2nd Montassib, 3rd Spy Chief, 4th Kind Of Blue, 5th Run To Freedom

Race 4 QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS FILLIES & MARES STAKES (Group 1)

No3 KALPANA
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Colin Keane

KALPANA put in a personal best over the course and distance when chasing home Calandagan in the King George. It proved the meat in the sandwich between similar good efforts in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh and Kempton’s September Stakes.

Hopes of another big run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe disappeared into the Longchamp mud, but the daughter of Study Of Man remains a class act on her day, and with cheek pieces added can make this an overdue first win of the season, backing up her victory in the corresponding race 12 months ago. Just behind the selection in the Arc was QUISISANA for whom it signalled the end to an impressive unbeaten record in 2025.

Francis Graffard’s filly enjoys some cut in the ground and could easily bounce back. BEDTIME STORY put in a strange display when never able to get on terms in the Prix de Royallieu on the same card. I can’t believe that was her true showing, and pulled back to a mile and a half here she could outrun her big price.

The issue that kept ESTRANGE out of Arc action may prove to be a blessing in disguise as she is as fresh as paint, while on the book the chief threat to Kalpana. The grey took out a Group 3 and a Group 2 before finding only Minnie Hauk too strong for her in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks, she’s lightly raced and that form is rock solid.

Prediction: 1st KALPANA, 2nd Estrange, 3rd Bedtime Story, 4th Quisisana

Race 5 QIPCO QUEEN ELIZABETH II STAKES (Group 1)

No6 NEVER SO BRAVE (Each Way)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy

FIELD OF GOLD is drawn highest on his return from a mid-season break and is going to start favourite ahead of the year older ROSALLION. The Kingman colt put his 2000 Guineas defeat behind him in scintillating fashion in the Irish Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes but ran very flat in the Sussex Stakes after which an excuse was put forward. The vibes from the Gosden camp are that he’s right back to his best, but he will need to be in a race that probably has more depth than seems the case at first sight.

ROSALLION should have won the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp when his challenge fell one stride short. His form prior to that is pretty much cast iron, and Richard Hannon’s colt would be the most deserving of winners. FACTEUR CHEVAL hasn’t managed to regain the wow factor in four attempts so far this season but is a horse that always runs well in the autumn.

JANUARY’s form has plummeted the last twice at Leopardstown and Longchamp but at her forecast odds I can’t completely rule her out, but the one who really can upset the applecart is NEVER SO BRAVE.

Since joining Andrew Balding the four-year-old has rocketed up the rankings and he boasts two triumphs at this course including a majestic display in the Group 2 Summer Mile. His Group 1 win in the City Of York has been doubly boosted by Maranoa Charlie and Rosallion, making him a danger to all, and the undoubted joker in the pack.

Prediction: 1st NEVER SO BRAVE, 2nd Rosallion, 3rd Field Of Gold, 4th January

Race 6 QIPCO CHAMPION STAKES (Group 1)

No6 OMBUDSMAN
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: William Buick

OMBUDSMAN has looked a proper Group 1 horse courtesy of his triumphs in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes here in June and latterly the Juddmonte International at York, bringing his career record to six successes from only eight starts. It’s hard to knock the Night Of Thunder colt who aside from running here could have a high profile overseas campaign ahead of him for a trainer who loves to fly the global flag.

CALANDAGAN is a huge danger dropping back to a mile and a quarter after taking out the Grand Prix at Saint-Cloud and the King George. Victory for Kalpana in the distaffers’ race earlier in the card would boost his claims for Francis Graffard.

DELACROIX was given a peach by Christophe Soumillon when winning the Irish Champion Stakes. He’s had a full campaign which took in the Epsom Derby, but apart from that hiccup when he appeared uneasy on the track he’s hardly put a foot wrong, and on form is very closely matched with the selection.

ECONOMICS is interesting in his late return to the fray but has to put aside an absence of a year at the very top level. A watching brief is advised, and a more realistic candidate to post an upset is ALMERIC, who has trotted up in two Listed races, and competes for just a fifth time in this big class hop.

Prediction: 1st OMBUDSMAN, 2nd Calandagan, 3rd Delacroix, 4th Almeric

Race 7 BALMORAL HANDICAP

No9 ARISAIG (Each Way)
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Jamie Spencer

A horse that has flirted with success but to no avail this season is ARISAIG. He now finds himself in an ultra competitive finale to Champions Day, but in Spencer could have the right jockey to unlock the puzzle. NATIVE WARRIOR has made significant progression as a four-year-old, posting has last two victories on this terrain which makes him a huge danger for Karl Burke.

Course winner CROWN OF OAKS is another with solid credentials and can take away a cheque for a trainer adept at getting the best out of this sort of individual, while amongst the roughies BOPEDRO and EBT’S GUARD are both overpriced and could earn.

Prediction: 1st ARISAIG, 2nd Native Warrior, 3rd Crown Of Oaks, 4th Bopedro, 5th Ebt’s Guard