British Champions Day Preview: Meet the Dark Horses To Watch Ascot is the host of the best flat racing in Britain on Saturday, with five Group 1s to feast upon. It’s competitive racing all round, and it should be an action-packed day full of great racing. We have picked out three dark horses who could spring a surprise this weekend. 12.55 Ascot, Al Qareem The first race of the day is the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup and has our first dark horse in the form of the Karl Burke-trained Al Qareem. The six-year-old gelding has been extremely consistent this season, winning six times so far. His best effort recently was his win at Ascot on his last start. He won the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes emphatically, winning by six lengths against Tenability, a progressive three-year-old, and his old foe Hamish. He utilised front-running tactics that day, and that could be the key here. If he can build up a lead, he might stay there as Al Qareem is a strong stayer who often finds a different gear inside the finish when challenged, so he could prove too tough to peg back. 2.45 Ascot, Wemighttakedlongway Joseph O'Brien's filly Wemighttakedlongway has been unlucky this season to not get her head in front in a Group 1. She has been unfortunate to have bumped into some very special fillies this season. Three starts ago, she finished fourth in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh when roughly three lengths behind Whirl, who has since won another Group 1 at Glorious Goodwood. That effort was over 1m2f. Then, on her penultimate start, she finished a close second to Minnie Hauk in the Irish Oaks. Minnie Hauk has since won another Group 1 and then finished second in the l'Arc de Triomphe so it's clear that today's 1m4f trip brings out the best in her. O’Brien’s charge was last seen finishing fourth at Longchamp in a Group 1 over a 1m2f, staying on well but again not at her best distance. She is a three-year-old in receipt of the weight-for-age allowance and improvement should come racing at her optimal trip. 4.40 Ascot, Cerulean Bay David O'Meara has a fantastic record in this race, winning three of the last ten runnings of the Balmoral Handicap, so it's no surprise to see him well-represented again. Stable jockey Daniel Tudhope's choice, Cerulean Bay, is the preference here. O'Meara's gelding has had a good season, winning five times, but he struggled with his handicap mark earlier in the summer, then finished second at Ascot in the Shergar Cup Mile, which brought rejuvenation. He would go on to place in a handicap at the York festival and then go on to win two Class 2 handicaps at Goodwood. His last two wins have been impressive. At Goodwood last Sunday, he travelled powerfully in the race to mount his challenge inside the final furlong. He won going away and is 6lbs well in here. There should be more to come.
