William Haggas: the inside track on my Champions Day runners

William Haggas is set to have several live chances across the card on Qatar Racing British Champions Day, with Almeraq a short-priced favourite for the G1 Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint. 

The four-year-old edged out Japanese raider Satono Reve and Australian mare Joliestar in a thrilling G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot and, following a disappointing run in the G1 July Cup, bounced back with a facile success on testing ground in the G1 Sprint Cup at Haydock Park. 

Haggas said: “Almeraq is really good. It does not look like he is going to get the weather to make him a 6/4 shot, but I think he is a pretty good horse who is in really good shape. I would be very hopeful that he will go well.

“He obviously enjoyed very soft ground at Haydock, but I thought his performance on fast ground at Royal Ascot was really good – even if it was a bunched finish – because the two he beat are pretty smart.

“I think you can put a line through the July Cup because he was drawn low and saw way too much daylight, while I am not sure he enjoyed the track much. If that’s the case, then I think his credentials for Saturday are pretty solid, whatever the ground. 

“I think Division is very worthy of a place in the lineup as well. We were not planning to run him until we saw the forecast and thought that it might not be as wet as usual. He wants good, fast ground and we have left him in with the intention to run. He has been drawn in one or two most of the season and, if he can get a stall in amongst them, that will help a lot.”

Haggas’ squad also includes More Thunder in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and lightly raced filly Lilt in the G1 Qatar Racing British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes. 

He added: “More Thunder is really well. He is a hostage to fortune in a way because he definitely needs riding cold to allow him to warm into the race. We probably rode him too prominently when he was fifth in the Marois, having run great in the Lockinge and the Queen Anne Stakes. He has got [a big] one in him, I am sure, but he just needs a solid pace and that’s why we have Needle Match in there to go forward. 

“Lilt is very interesting because her work has been very good since the Blandford Stakes. I immediately thought a mile and a half after that race, but I just wonder if that was more down to rustiness, or something else, and whether a mile and a half at Ascot is actually what she needs. The ground will give her every chance of getting the trip.

“Bullet Point, who runs Ascot very well, and Crown Of Oaks will get in the Balmoral Handicap, but it doesn’t look like Scoville will, which is a shame because he is improving. I think Crown Of Oaks is better on soft ground and there is a Listed race in Ireland on Sunday which he could go for depending on the weather.”