Saturday Racing Multi Tips: Two to be crowned champions in Ascot 25/1 double

Saturday, Ascot, 13:30, Long Distance Cup Tip: Back Highwayman @ 3/14.00

9 (2)

Highwayman (Fr)

• J: D. B. McMonagle
• T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien, Ireland
• F: 9008111

• SBK 11/4
• EXC 4

Last Saturday's double floundered in the mud and U Sure Do was colder than a mistral of Corsica as he drifted out from 12/113.00 to 28/129.00 and game over.

Hopefully better to come for Champions Day at Ascot starting off with the Long Distance Cup.

This division has been weak for a while and it's good to see Alan King giving a chance to Daquiri Bay, the Ebor winner, but he still has to prove he can be the next Trueshan.

I like Highwayman here for Joseph O'Brien, who since winning his Maiden at Killarney over 1m3f earlier in the season has gone from strength to strength.

That Killarney run means little in the context of this race, but he took the jump in class well to score in the Vinnie Roe at Leopardstown in August with the extra distance suiting, and then followed up with another strike at Doncaster when running away with the St Leger.

The ground was good, good to soft at Doncaster officially although times indicated a better surface and he should get that at Ascot on Saturday.

With Alderman in fourth, he beat trees basically but the manner was the exciting part. While the pace finish speed at 105% tells us it was not the sternest test, Highwayman was finishing with the two fastest final furlongs, and half a second quicker than the third Amelia Earhart.

His sire Camelot does get stayers and he has a 30% placed record over 2m on all turf courses and Highwayman wasn't exactly stopping at the end of the Leger.

Saturday, Ascot, 15:20, QEII Tip: Back Rayif @ 11/26.50

9 (1)

Rayif (Ire)

• J: Christophe Soumillon
• T: Francis-Henri Graffard, France
• F: 113-151

• SBK 11/2
• EXC 7.6

The French 2000 Guineas winner Rayif was my antepost tip earlier this week at 7/24.50, so he's not exactly got the market and punters onside as he's 11/26.50 for Saturday, but surely that's too big?

It's not a shock the three-year-olds hold one, two and three in the betting with Rayif third on the list but he's a horse with some turn of foot.

I can only think the market vibes can be attached to the form of the French Poulains as the second and third have done absolutely nothing for the form.

However, despite his below par run at Deauville over a shorter trip in the Prix Jean Prat which was on rapid going he bounced back over 1m on his latest start to exorcise the demons of Deauville with a win in the Prix Jacque Marois.

He appeared happier over the 1m and nabbed Zeus Olympios late on in a race where they split into two and he was trapped widest.

I love the way this young colt sticks his neck down with such a willing attitude and with only three starts this term, he hasn't been over-raced by any means and will be tip-top fresh considering his last run was back in August.

Now read Alan Dudman's Big Race Verdict on Saturday's Champion Stakes!