Jim Crowley Champions Stakes blog: 'It would be great to cause a shock'

Jim Crowley is back with another exclusive blog with Coral, this time running through Champions Stakes at Ascot.

Just the one ride for me on Champions day, but it’s a big one, in the Qipco Champion Stakes. Anmaat is on something of a recovery mission after his defeat in the Prix Dollar, the first time in his career he’s finished outside of the first three, which tells its own story of what a disappointment that was, especially as he was a hot favourite going into the race.

We just got left a little too far back early on at Longchamp, they went no pace, and when I had to ask my horse to quicken, he did, but that probably took too much out of him. He’s been absolutely fine at home since, all the team are very happy with him, and so it was an easy decision to come here, he’s a Group One winner and fully deserves his place in this line up.

We’re drawn well in stall five, and he loves soft ground, so if he can put that last run behind him, he’s definitely got an each-way chance, if not more. Economics and Calandagan dominate the market, and while the former has been superb this season, there could be a question mark about him going on proper soft ground. Calandagan’s second to City Of Troy at York looks top class form, and he will go on this ground no problem, so of the two, I’d narrowly favour the French runner. 

It’s a brilliant race to be involved in, on a brilliant day. We had the disappointment of Baaeed getting beaten in the race two years ago, so it is a race where upsets can happen, it would be massive if we were the ones causing the shock this time.  

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