Ben Morgan’s Saturday tips – Ascot Champions Day – Going out with a bang

Racing Ahead’s resident tipster Ben Morgan selects his best bets for Saturday’s action at Ascot.

It is the final day of the Flat season on Saturday, which also sees the Summer NAPS table draw to a close.

For anyone who follows this, they will know this season has been remarkably tight with no one tipster running away with it, which means there are a host in with a chance on the last day, including myself as Racing Ahead’s representative.

I have been battling it out all year, but have recently suffered from my customary drop off in the final two weeks.

I still have a chance, though, but will have to land a tasty one tomorrow in order to take the top prize.

There is plenty of value in this week’s selections, so hopefully I can go out with a bang!

For exclusive stories and all the detailed Racing news you need, subscribe to the Racing Ahead website, digital edition, or magazine from as little as 8p a day.

1.30 – Godolphin hotpot needs to watch his back

Some top prize money hasn’t necessarily been rewarded here, and it would look at first glance that the favourite has a penalty kick here.

However, with a decent size field of two year olds, I wouldn’t be all that surprised if there was to be a shock here, and I am tipping WATCHA SNOOP to cause that upset.

With a mark of 84, I think he would be a shoe in for a nursery somewhere, so it is quite telling that connections aim for this prize where he is officially 28lbs worse off with the favourite.

I don’t think there is all that much between them, especially based on their meeting at Newmarket earlier in the Summer.

That was my selection’s debut run, and he then built on that next time out when beating a good field here at Ascot in a race which has worked out well.

A complete no show in the Mill Reef followed that, but I would happily forgive him that run and back him here at 50/1, where I would be confident he will be closer to first than last.

3.25 – Course legend Docks up again

Hot favourite FIELD OF GOLD certainly comes with a degree of risk attached here, given he has not been seen since his disappointing effort in the Sussex Stakes, where his pacemaker beat the field.

At 2/1, I think there are better bets here which both offer more safety and value.

I’m keen on DOCKLANDS, who has a phenomenal course record here and confirmed that with a victory in the Queen Anne Stakes back in June.

I thought he did well to win that day, given they went a crawl in front and he quickened off that pedestrian gallop to get up on the line.

He has since performed admirably in other top races, which confirms it was no fluke that he won that Group 1, and now returned to his backyard, I think he will be safe each way bet at 12/1.

4.05 – French star to make amends after narrow defeat

I was heartbroken to see Anmaat sluice past CALANDAGAN in this race last year as the soft ground just caught out my selection in the dying strides.

He is undoubtedly much better on a firmer surface and he gets the opportunity to prove that tomorrow.

This looks one of the best editions of the Champions Stakes that we have seen with Ombudsman, Delacroix and others all chashing heads, and I hope a fairly run race will bring out the correct winner.

I think my selection is the best horse in the field, so I simply have to back him at 11/4.

4.40 – Meneusier to work his magic in competitive Balmoral 

I was disappointed TRIBAL CHIEF didn’t quite fire in the Cambridgeshire last time out, but it looked as if he was on the wrong side, so may have been an unlucky loser if he was on song anyway.

His shrews trainer has lined him up for a tilt at that Newmarket race and this race all season, so I am hopeful he can show improved form here and bounce back.

He looks to be drawn in the right place and has the right profile for the race, so if he replicates his form that he showed at Goodwood earlier in the season, then he will be there or thereabouts.

READ MORE: Ben Morgan’s Friday & Saturday tips at Newmarket, York & Chepstow