IT IS Qipco Champions Day at Ascot this afternoon and it is always a shame that this big racing day nearly always takes place on soft or heavy ground, I would much prefer that the meeting stayed at Newmarket where the ground dries out much quicker. However, the powers that be that also disqualified the Cesarewitch winner four days after the race, obviously have their reasoning. Say no More!

The highlight of the afternoon at the Berkshire track is the Champion Stakes (3.55) and this race centres around whether Economics handles this softer ground after his battling victory in the Irish version on good ground. This will be the deepest ground he has run on since his career debut at Newmarket last November when he stayed on nicely that day to finish a closing fourth. Unbeaten in four outings since, purely on both my ratings and those of the official handicapper he has 2lbs to find with the French raider Calandagan.