Appleby Confident as Top Sprinters Clash

The trends have it that Creative Force , who is defending champion and likely favorite for the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (G1), has it all to do with stall 13.

Since the Diadem Stakes was repurposed as this race in 2011, only one winner has broken from a higher stall and that was Deacon Blues  on the inaugural British Champions Day.

The reality is a little kinder. The stalls will be on the far side, but with a field of 18 being just two off the maximum, there is still a good chance of a sizeable group forming on the near rail.

Perhaps even better, the strongest pace angle among the high numbers, Platinum Jubilee Stakes (G1) winner Naval Crown  in 16, is a stablemate of Creative Force.

"There was only a neck between them at Royal Ascot, and both ran creditable races in the (Darley) July Cup (Stakes, G1). The idea was always to give Creative Force a break afterward and wait for the autumn ground. We know that Creative Force brings more to the table with some ease in the ground and, for me, he's the favorite they've all got to beat", said Charlie Appleby, trainer of Creative Force and Naval Crown .

The nearest likely front-runner to the far side, Brad The Brief , is in stall five and the purest blaster, Go Bears Go , is more or less plumb center in nine. Whether there is one central group or the field splits this year, Creative Force seems unlikely to be marooned.

Most of the big players are drawn middle or high. Rohaan , whose only defeat at Ascot came in this race last year, is in six with Garrus  and Art Power  in the next two stalls. 

"(Rohaan)'s record at Ascot is very good—he loves it there," trainer David Evans said. "The horse is in top form. I think the draw is okay and the ground suits. He's a remarkable horse. I don't think we've seen the best of him yet. Everything needs to go right, but hopefully, it will".

They are both interesting. Garrus is an improved horse this year and that does not seem to have been factored into his price, while Art Power has, for once in a six-furlong group 1, been handed a kind draw and arrives after a career-best run at the Curragh.

Having been burdened with unsuitable draws for most of the last two seasons, Art Power finally gets a middle berth in stall eight, which connections feel sure will suit him.

Alastair Donald, racing manager to the grey’s owners, King Power Racing, said: “It’s his big chance. For about the first time in his last ten starts he’s not drawn on the flank, and he’s got his ground.”

Kinross  won the Qatar Prix de la Foret Presente Par Education Above All (G1) last time at Longchamp, which was probably his big day, but on form, he needs to be feared.

Tenebrism  won the Haras d'Etreham Prix Jean Prat (G1) in July and this will be her first run over sprint trips since winning last year's Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (G1).

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Tenebrism said: "She's in very good form and we always thought she would be very happy back over six furlongs. It was very soft ground in France for the Foret and seven furlongs on that sort of ground probably caught her out. She seems very well".