Champions Day: Course Specialists

Cape Byron – Champions Sprint

The Roger Varian-trained Cape Byron has been a revelation this year, achieving much of what he had promised in previous years, as well as confirming his love for Ascot. His affinity for the Berkshire track came back in 2017 when winning a soft-ground minor event over a mile and, for all he drew a blank in 2018, he still put up some respectable efforts on Ascot’s straight course, beaten half a length by Ripp Orf (another course specialist) in a useful handicap and beaten just over four lengths by Raising Sand (yet another course specialist) in the Challenge Cup, both over seven furlongs.

Something has clicked this season, though, proving better than ever when winning the Victoria Cup on return in May, and confirming the impression made there when following up in the Wokingham at the Royal meeting in June. That win prompted connections to have a swing at the July Cup at Newmarket, and for all he was disappointing on that occasion, it isn’t a hard performance to forgive on the back of two momentous efforts.

He returned to form in the Duke of York Stakes in August, but he was still unable to reproduce the level of form he had shown in the Victoria Cup and Wokingham earlier in the year.  However, he was strong in the market and resumed winning ways returned to Ascot in the Bengough Stakes last time, taking advantage of a drop in grade, but still matching his best Timeform performance rating, all of which have come at Ascot.

He loves it at @Ascot! Cape Byron bounces back to win the Group 3 Bengough Stakes under @Atzenijockey for @varianstable… pic.twitter.com/e8QlJJ8zhh

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 5, 2019

Connections are entitled to have another try in Group 1 company now, especially at this venue. The question mark is of course the ground, but he has won on soft ground before, and is a strong stayer at this trip. Therefore, it would be no surprise were Cape Byron to go close here, double-figure odds making some appeal for all he will need another career best to come out on top.

Lord Glitters – Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

David O’Meara and owners Geoff and Sandra Turnbull have enjoyed plenty of success with their recruits from France, and Lord Glitters is another to add to the list that also features dual American Grade 1 winner Mondialiste.

Just like Mondialiste, Lord Glitters wasn’t a cheap purchase, bought for €270,000 at the sales in July 2017, and he made a bright start to life on British soil when beaten half a length by Accidental Agent (another course specialist) in the Challenge Cup at Ascot in 2017. Lord Glitters was sent off at much shorter odds – a well-backed 3/1 favourite – two weeks later when winning the Balmoral Handicap at this meeting on his next start, confirming the abundant promise of his stable debut in no uncertain terms.

Lord Glitters would go on to finish runner-up in both the Queen Anne Stakes (again to Accidental Agent) at the Royal meeting and the Summer Mile in 2018, his sole win coming in the Stensall Stakes at York. He closed out the year with a creditable sixth-place finish in the QEII, never able to land a blow after being positioned too far back.

Lord Glitters wins the Queen Anne Stakes! @Ascot #RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/f71RsVOzfT

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 18, 2019

The likeable six-year-old put up his best effort – a Timeform performance rating of 123 – when winning the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting this year. The race was run to suit his hold-up style, at a track that clearly suits, always travelling well in the rear before making his move two furlongs out and edging ahead in the final 100 yards. Since then, Lord Glitters hasn’t been suited by the run of the race in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and not seen to best effect over a mile and a quarter in the International Stakes at York. However, much better is expected now returned to this venue under conditions that shouldn’t inconvenience him.

Kynren – Balmoral Handicap

Admittedly, Kynren doesn’t win very often, but he is a regular in these top-end, big-field handicaps and has a particularly good record at Ascot. A three-time winner in 2017, he didn’t manage to get his head in front the following year, but put in plenty of respectable efforts, including when finishing fifth in this race (beaten two lengths) on his final start that season.

This campaign started off in similar fashion, filling the runner-up spot on his first two starts in the Lincoln at Doncaster and the Victoria Cup at Ascot. However, it was the latter performance that caught the eye, running to a smart level to be denied by a neck from the progressive Cape Byron. That was the sixth time in nine starts since the beginning of 2018 that Kynren had hit the frame in a big-field handicap, telling of his consistency and how suited he is to the hustle and bustle of these races.

It’s his day today! Kynren records his first win since September 2017, taking the bet365 Challenge Cup at @Ascot under Ben Curtis for David Barron… pic.twitter.com/TyDdx4sC7o

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 5, 2019

A close fifth in the Hunt Cup at the Royal meeting followed before two more solid placed efforts in big handicaps. However, it all came together in the Challenge Cup last time, gaining a much-deserved first success since his three-year-old days. He seemed well suited by a return to softer ground on that occasion, travelling smoothly and upsides the leaders two furlongs out before being nursed to the front in the final 100 yards. A 6 lb penalty for that success means he will race off a career-high mark here, but that win may have boosted his confidence, and it is hard to imagine he won’t be there or thereabouts come the finish in suitable conditions.