Champions Stakes favourite and last years winner of the race Cracksman is looking to repeat his success in this race and defend his title but this year he will be doing it in first time Blinkers.
The John Gosden trained four year old has had a topsy turvy season, although he has gone on to win two Group 1 races in the Prix Ganay in France and the Coronation Cup at Epsom, he then went on to finish a poor second in the Prince of Wales's at Royal Ascot to Poet's Word.
He looked a different horse that day and since then Gosden has revealed he needs a lot of cut in the ground, with the ground that day being to quick to be at his best and he was very distracted that day with the other female horses.
This is why first time blinkers are being applied now to get him to knuckle down properly and perform to the standard that we all know he can. He has also got the ground that he thrives off with Ascot being Soft with heavy patches on the course which the colt will love.
Frankie Dettori who has ridden him in most of his days on the racecourse will be back on board and with fellow stablemate Roaring Lion moving into the QEII over a mile he doesn't have as much opposition.
(Credit At The Races) The jockey said in his Ladbrokes Blog: “There’s no Roaring Lion in the Champion Stakes, which makes life easier for me.
“Cracksman is in good form. He won the race last year and we have the blinkers on him to keep his concentration levels up.
“If the same Cracksman turns up from last year, he will be very hard to beat. He’s been off for a long time, but we have been very pleased with his demeanour.“It’s his last race and let’s hope he can do it.
Cracksman is currently best priced 10/11 to regain his title but will be against tough proven Group 1 horses in the sense of Crystal Ocean 5/1, Stablemate Monarchs Glen 14/1 and the Aidan O'Brien trained Capri 16/1 who won the St Leger in 2017.
(Credit Racing UK)