Decision yet to be made on Champion course

Ascot’s clerk of the course Chris Stickels has yet to decide which of two tracks will be used for the Champion Stakes.

Officials provisionally planned to run the 10-furlong (2000m) showpiece on the newly demarcated inner Flat course, which was given the thumbs-up by leading jockeys Ryan Moore and Pat Smullen after they tested it in a gallop earlier this month.

However, because of the unseasonably dry autumn, the going on the inner course is described as good to firm, firm in places, while the outer course, on which the remainder of the races will be staged, is good, good to soft in places.

Stickels said the decision would be made on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT) ahead of Saturday’s feature.

“There is the risk of an odd shower from later today until tomorrow and then there is an increased risk of shower from tomorrow through to the weekend,” Stickels said.

French horse Almanzor is the favourite for the race ahead of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Found.