2023 Champion Stakes Tips - Can Boughey's mare beat the boys?

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: Fri 20 Oct 2023 09:09

Jon Vine 20 Oct 2023

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Odds and predictions for the 2023 Champions Stakes [Updated 20/10/23]
This Group One takes place on Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 21st October
Via Sistina is our primary selection at 7/1

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Via Sistina (pink sleeves) winning The Yulong Pretty Polly Stakes at Curragh. (Getty)

The fourth and final Group One to be held on British Champions Day is the Champion Stakes. Many of flat racing's most famous names have won this ten-furlong contest and Bay Bridge will attempt to join the illustrious list of multiple winners on Saturday.

Here's our free guide to the 2023 Champion Stakes, including our best betting tips.

2023 Champion Stakes Odds

You can see the latest odds for the 2023 Champion Stakes here on our website.

2023 Champion Stakes Tips - Via Sistina

Another Champion Stakes victory for Bay Bridge would be the perfect tonic for Sir Michael Stoute, as one of his worst-ever seasons comes to an end. Richard Kingscote's mount won last year's renewal of this race on the back of a 105-day absence. The 20-day turnaround between Saturday's feature and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is worrying for a horse who seems to do his best work when fresh.

Horizon Dore has yet to dip his toe into Group One waters and needs to prove that he's up to this standard. Frankie Dettori will fancy his chances on King Of Steel - a horse I haven't really warmed to at all this season, so I'm happy to take him on at his current price.

At the ante-post stage, I backed Royal Rhyme at 20/1, expecting his price to contract when the race inevitably cut up. That's now happened and I wouldn't be surprised to see Karl Burke's improving colt go off at a single-figure price.

Another who has shown a clear liking for juicy ground is VIA SISTINA (7/1), whose only poor performance this season came when dropped down to a mile for the Falmouth Stakes, where she was outpaced behind Nashwa in third.

George Boughey's mare has clocked excellent RPRs of 118 on her other three starts this term. Via Sistina destroyed Nassau winner Al Husn in the Dahlia Stakes on her reappearance, before comfortably winning her first Group One in the Pretty Polly at the Curragh. Last time out, Boughey's five-year-old was beaten a nose in the Prix Jean Romanet by Mqse De Sevigne, who proved she was no slouch with a good performance behind Inspiral in the Sun Chariot Stakes two weeks ago.

Boughey has freshened his mare up since that run at Deauville and Via Sistina's record on the back of similar breaks is extremely good. With her regular rider, Jamie Spencer in Australia for the Caulfield Cup, Oisin Murphy has been booked for the ride and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Via Sistina come out on top.

2023 Champion Stakes Live Stream

If you plan on watching this Group One live on a mobile or tablet, then check out our British Champions Day Live Stream page.

Verdict

2023 Champion Stakes

Via Sistina is our main selection in the 2023 Champion Stakes.

Via Sistina

2023 Champion Stakes Tips

@7/1 - 15 Units

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