Crack looks champion

CRACKSMAN can put the seal on a fine three-year-old campaign with victory in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot.

The John Gosden-trained Frankel colt arrives at the glittering finale to the British season as a relatively fresh horse, with connections having resisted the temptation of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly, won so brilliantly by stablemate Enable.

Placed in both the English and Irish Derby, Frankie Dettori’s mount looked an improved performer when winning the Great Voltigeur at York in August and was not hard-pushed to continue his progression in the Prix Niel.

That led to a clamour from armchair experts to see him in the Arc, but Gosden and owner Anthony Oppenheimer rightly stood firm - a decision that should be vindicated here, with a bit of cut in the ground certain to suit over 10 furlongs and few riders better at Ascot than Dettori, especially if he decides to do it from the front.

Connections were initially lukewarm on the idea of another run this season, but this looked too good an opportunity to pass up.

Aidan O’Brien has been impossible to keep out of the headlines this year when it has mattered most, so expect to see Order Of St George put the record straight in the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup.

There were plenty of long faces when he was turned over in an absolute epic for the Gold Cup at the Royal meeting in the summer, but whether it would be the same result if the race was run again is open to debate.

The five-year-old has made no mistake in two wins since, and also ran a huge race to be fourth to Enable in the Arc.

It is hard to look past Harry Angel in the Qipco British Champions Sprint.

Trainer Clive Cox and jockey Adam Kirby felt their flying machine should have won the Commonwealth Cup in the summer and whether or not that is a correct assertion, he has not put a foot wrong since.

The Godolphin-owned son of Dark Angel looked tremendous when winning the July Cup at Newmarket and even better in the Sprint Cup at Haydock.