THE rain won't dampen a brilliant afternoon at Ascot on Saturday.
It's QIPCO British Champions Day, with £4.2 million in prize money up for grabs and four top Group 1 contests to enjoy.
In the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over the straight mile, CIRCUS MAXIMUS is a strong fancy.
Aidan O'Brien's classy three-year-old has improved with each visit to the racecourse this season.
He started out the campaign as a Derby contender, but he made heavy weather of winning his trial at Chester and he was beaten just over five lengths into sixth at Epsom itself.
The O'Brien masterstroke came at Royal Ascot, when the son of Galileo relished the drop back to a mile to win the St James's Palace in first-time blinkers.
That headgear has been retained ever since and (bar a non-staying effort in the Juddmonte International) he has continued to run well, pushing Too Darn Hot close at Goodwood before nosing out Romanised in the Prix du Moulin in France.
He was actually a more decisive winner of that Group 1 that the winning margin suggests as he wandered around in the closing stages and was going away again at the line.
Slow ground is no barrier to him (unlike leading fancy Benbatl who needs a sound surface), and he is equally adept over a straight track as he is around a bend.
QEII Stakes antepost tip
Saturday – 3.20 Ascot- CIRCUS MAXIMUS 7-1 with William Hill (Bet now)
He brings some of the best mile form to the table, he gets a handy three-year-old allowance and no-one peaks their horses for big autumn features quite like his masterful trainer. I just hope they run here before a potential trip to America.
There has been plenty of money for French raider The Revenant in recent days after his easy Group 2 win earlier this month.
But he is skinny enough at the head of the betting now and his most impressive career wins have come after a break. Perhaps he is best fresh?
Queen Anne hero Lord Glitters should run his usual good race at this course, but he looks vulnerable to younger legs.
King Of Comedy and the selection's stablemate Magna Grecia are interesting, but both arrive with a slight point to prove.
One who makes each-way appeal at a price is the lightly-raced King Of Change, though this son of Farhh is unproven on testing ground.
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