Snowfall Hopes to Bounce Back at Ascot

Just 18 horses have run on Champions Day after competing in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), 12 of those were trained by Aidan O'Brien. The quick turnaround after a tough race on testing ground in France has never put the Ballydoyle trainer off a crack at an Ascot group 1 and he adopts the same route with Snowfall  this year in the Oct. 16 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (G1).

That's not to say that the optimistic autumn double has regularly paid off. Just three out of 18 Arc runners have backed up and won at Ascot and two of those victories came courtesy of Magical in 2018 (Fillies & Mares) and 2019 (Champion Stakes, G1).

It takes a bombproof constitution and although Snowfall handled her racing well in the past two years she is yet to prove she boasts the same consistency at the top level as her now-retired stablemate.

The daughter of Deep Impact  didn't seem to possess star quality last term but rapidly shot to the top of the 3-year-old filly rankings with decisive strikes in the Tattersalls Musidora (G3), Cazoo Oaks (G1), Juddmonte Irish Oaks (G1), and Darley Yorkshire Oaks (G1) to begin this season. Although she seemed to breeze home in each of those contests, Snowfall largely faced the same group of inferior rivals.

Nevertheless, on those performances she could be considered a near certainty in what is a weak field for this 12 furlong group 1. The nagging doubt is not just the quick turnaround but the fact she disappointed at 1-5 in the Qatar Prix Vermeille (G1) in September.

Snowfall has 10 pounds in hand of her nearest rival Albaflora  on official ratings and receives a further seven pound weight-for-age allowance, which makes the task for Ralph Beckett's 4-year-old all the more difficult.

However, Albaflora was kept fresh for this race after finishing a gallant four-length second to Snowfall at York in August and is sure to be favored by the return to Ascot, a track that clearly suits her well.

"We have a few lengths to make up but my filly is as good as she can be and she's been aimed for this, so it all comes down to whether Snowfall comes out of her last race or not," said jockey Rossa Ryan, named on Albaflora in Saturday's race. "It's a strong race but we're as happy as we can be. A shower in the morning would be ideal to keep the ground loose, the slower side of good would be better."

Her Buckhounds Stakes victory over this course-and-distance in May was a monstrous performance and any cut underfoot will surely help her cause. Tribal Craft , who finished seven lengths adrift at 50-1 that day, reopposes and will need a huge career-best to reverse the form.

The two new fillies on the scene are Eshaada  and Invite , who have had just four and six starts, respectively, and will look to liven up a shaky division. Andrew Balding is yet to uncover Invite's full potential after picking her up from Marco Botti but he was given plenty to work with when she romped home by two lengths at Chester on her yard debut last month.

The make-up of this race altered drastically upon declarations Oct. 15 with previous market leaders Free Wind  and La Petite Coco  not declared, which seemingly sets the stage for Oaks heroine Snowfall to crown her season in style after being rerouted from the Champion Stakes.

The aura of dominance Snowfall built around herself following a hat-trick of group 1 victories through the summer has dimmed in the last month following two defeats in France, the most recent when finishing sixth in the Arc 13 days ago.

Before then she won the Oaks, Irish Oaks, and Yorkshire Oaks by a combined 28 1/2 lengths and trainer Aidan O'Brien is satisfied his star filly is ready to go again as he seeks a third victory in the race.

The Ballydoyle trainer also runs La Joconde , who was only half a length behind Snowfall in the Prix Vermeille, and he said: "Snowfall ran a very good race in the Arc. She hasn't done much since but seems to be in good form. La Joconde seems happier over a mile and a half."