British Champions Sprint Stakes: Runners and Riders

Kinross is another defending champion back at Ascot on Saturday hoping to retain his crown in the British Champions Sprint Stakes for Frankie Dettori and Ralph Beckett.

He beat 17 rivals last year but will face only 14 now, with July Cup winner Shaquille a key late absentee. 

The Champions Sprint Stakes is race two on the Ascot card this Saturday and the six-furlong Group 1 contest carries a top prize in excess of £283k.

Here's our look at the runners and riders for the British Champions Sprint Stakes.

What	Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes
Where	Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire
When	1.50, Saturday 21st October, 2023
How to watch	bet365 Sports Live Streaming, ITV, Sky Sports Racing & Racing TV
Odds	Kinross 6/4, Vadream 11/2, Mill Stream 7/1, Sandrine 7/1, Spycatcher 12/1

1. Art Power

Current Odds - 16/1
Jockey - David Allan
Trainer - Tim Easterby

Art Power is a five-time winner at Group-race level, though interestingly they have all come in Ireland where the sprinting division has been weaker in recent times.

He was fourth in this race in 2021, acts on soft ground and should not be dismissed. 

2. Kinross 

Current Odds - 6/4
Jockey - Frankie Dettori
Trainer - Ralph Beckett

Kinross won this in decisive fashion a year ago and while he's very much viewed a seven-furlong specialist, a stiff six on testing ground here is clearly suited to him.

He's been as good as ever this season and despite only finishing second in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp early in the month, he returns here with strong claims. 

3. Rohaan 

Current Odds - 14/1
Jockey - Ryan Moore
Trainer - David Evans

A Group 3 winner over course and distance last autumn, Rohaan was then fourth in this race soon after. He has had his struggles at times across a busy season this time, but once more comes back to this after a course and distance win (handicap) at the start of the month.

4. Run To Freedom 

Current Odds - 25/1
Jockey - Trevor Whelan
Trainer - Henry Candy 

He's never won at Ascot but he ran an absolute blinder when second in this last year at 150/1 behind Kinross. He was a Listed winner at Salisbury in May and once more took a silver medal behind Shaquille in the July Cup at Newmarket.

He was well held in the Sprint Cup at Haydock last month in his only outing since, but he could run a big one again.

5. Saint Lawrence 

Current Odds - 40/1
Jockey - Hollie Doyle
Trainer - Archie Watson

Saint Lawrence bagged the Wokingham over course and distance in June, before an excellent third in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville in August on very soft ground.

6. Spycatcher 

Current Odds - 12/1
Jockey - Clifford Lee
Trainer - Karl Burke

This very consistent sprinter has bagged wins at Thirsk in a Conditions event and Deauville in a Group 3 this season.

He was only just edged out in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest back in France in August on testing ground and faded only late in Park Stakes at Doncaster (7f, soft) last time out. 

7. Mill Stream

Current Odds - 7/1
Jockey - William Buick
Trainer - Jane Chapple-Hyam

The improving Gleneagles colt won Listed/Group 3 contests at Deauville in August and put up a bold show for a long way in the Sprint Cup at Haydock quite soon after the later of those wins.

A short break since is sure to have done no harm and there could be more to come as champion jockey William Buick steers for the first time.

8. Makarova 

Current Odds - 40/1
Jockey - Paul Mulrennan
Trainer - Ed Walker

Makarova was a listed winner at Ayr (5f, good) in June and has run some big races in defeat since, including a fourth in York's Nunthorpe and two-lengths sixth in the Abbaye at Longchamp most recently.

9. Sandrine

Current Odds - 7/1
Jockey - Oisin Murphy
Trainer - Andrew Balding 

This filly was very smart at two and won the Lennox at Glorious Goodwood last summer over 7f on good ground.

She has often seen the back of Kinross under variety of conditions, but was only a length behind that rival in City Of Yok Stakes in August and won the Park Stakes at Doncaster (7f, soft) since with Spycatcher in third.

10. Sense Of Duty

Current Odds - 20/1
Jockey - Tom Marquand
Trainer - William Haggas

Sense Of Duty won on all three starts in 2022 as a three-year-old, including the Group 3 Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle over this trip.

She missed 455 days after that and kept on from the rear for third in a Newbury Group 3 over 5f (heavy) four weeks ago on her comeback.

11. Vadream

Current Odds - 11/2
Jockey - Kieran Shoemark
Trainer - Charlie Fellowes

Her trio of wins in Listed/Group 3 company have all come on testing ground and she came up shy in the Bengough Stakes over course and distance a fortnight ago.

She was third in this race in 2021 and sixth last year, but she has optimal conditions for this latest attempt. 

12. Believing

Current Odds - 20/1
Jockey - Danny Tudhope
Trainer - George Boughey 

The lightly-raced Mehmas filly has been progressive this year, winning three times in six starts including a Group 3 at Chantilly in May on soft going.

August's Listed win at Pontefract was on much quicker ground, but a close third in the Sprint Cup at Haydock six weeks ago was a personal best and she will look to build on that.

13. Magical Sunset

Current Odds - 66/1
Jockey - Rossa Ryan
Trainer - Dominic Ffrench-Davis

The Kodiac filly won the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in August over 7f on soft ground.

It was easily her best effort so far that afternoon, but she was not as good at Doncaster in the Sceptre Stakes last month and has plenty to prove when dropped in trip for this rise in class on her first Group 1 start.

14. Ocean Quest

Current Odds - 25/1
Jockey - Shane Foley
Trainer - Jessica Harrington

The sole Irish raider in a sprinting division in which they have struggled in recent times.

This Sioux Nation filly has Listed/Group 3 wins at Naas this season, but was the beaten favourite in the Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh last month. She finished fourth in the Commonwealth Cup here in June on her sole excursion outside of Ireland. 

15. Swingalong

Current Odds - 20/1
Jockey - Sam James
Trainer - Karl Burke 

The three-year-old filly produced her best effort so far when landing the Summer Stake at York (6f, good) in July, having previously finished third in the Commonwealth Cup.

A good fourth since in Haydock's Sprint Cup - beaten by a length-and-a-half - brings her into the mix, although she has mostly raced on good ground. 

Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.