Kevin Blake's Saturday Racing Tips: Trueshan overpriced and a 6/1 bet for the Sprint

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Kevin Blake has two tips for British Champions Day at Ascot

British Champions Day is here and Kevin Blake is very strong on the favourite in the Long Distance Cup while he believes a sprinter could be hitting top form at exactly the right time...

  • Trueshan looks overpriced in perfect conditions
  • Art Power coming to the boil at the right time
  • Money back on all losers in the Long Distance Cup

British Champions Day always brings together a mighty collection of equine talent on one of the very finest stages in world sport.

Mercifully, the rain is unlikely to have too much of an impact on this year's meeting and with the ground set to be just on the easy side of good, there will hopefully prove to be no excuses for the array of talented horses that have been declared for the meeting.

Perfect conditions for Trueshan in Long Distance Cup

Those looking for the best bet of the day won't have long to wait as I feel it comes in the opening Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (13:25).

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Saturday Ascot Promo: Money back on all Long Distance Cup losers. Full details here.

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The market is giving an awful lot of respect to two three-year-olds in the shape of the St Leger winner Eldar Eldarov and the Irish Cesarewitch winner Waterville. Both have already achieved plenty, particularly Eldar Eldarov, and are undoubtedly open to further progression, but very few stayers in the modern era have risen to the heights that Trueshan has in terms of his rating.

Trueshan has been a force in this division since destroying his opposition in this very race in 2020 and the only variable that has stopped him being dominant in it is the fact that his connections haven't wanted to run him on good ground or firmer.

He put up one of the finest performances in the Flat handicap in the modern era when defying a mark of 120 to win the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle in June. While he has been beaten twice since, neither race went right for him in tactical terms and he can be rated better than the bare form.

Two miles with an ease in the ground around Ascot is close to perfect conditions for Trueshan and while the promise of his opposition is clear, if he brings his best form to the table he will set the bar very high for any of his rivals to come up to. He looks overpriced to me.

Back Trueshan in 13:25 Ascot @

2.92

Art has the Power to win Champions Sprint

My other pick of the day comes in the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (14:00). The front end of the market looks to be strong, but the Tim Easterby-trained Art Power looks to be the one that is overpriced.

The five-year-old always brings his best to Ascot, finishing in the frame in the last two renewals of this race with his effort in last year's race being particularly notable. He was drawn away from the main action that day and did really well to work his way into contention and be beaten by just 2¼ lengths.

He comes into this year's renewal a much fresher horse having missed the first half of the season and he looked to be very much coming to the boil at the right time when bolting up in the Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh last time.

The draw has been kinder to him this year and with the ease in the ground being set to suit him, he looks to have strong prospects of getting heavily involved in the finish.

Back Art Power each-way in 14:00 Ascot @

6/1

Recommended bets

Back Trueshan in 13:25 Ascot @ 2.9215/8
Back Art Power each-way in 14:00 Ascot @ 6/1

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