Group One Champion Stakes Guide 2022

Baaeed, arguably the world’s best, will look to bow out unbeaten here. He was stepped up to a mile and a quarter in the Juddmonte last time out, and ran away with it to win by six and a half lengths from Mishriff in second.

He proved he stays the trip well there, and in all fairness – it would be bitterly disappointing should he get beat. He’s a horse of a lifetime.

Helvic Dream is winless since May 2021, when winning the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) on heavy going. Now, he would have a fairly decent shout relative to his price, ground should the ground get desperate, as all his best form is on really soft ground.

He’s not ran particularly well in two starts this year but he didn’t get his ground. He’s a bit interesting at a hell of a price.

Royal Champion won the Doonside Cup Stakes (Listed) last time out at Ayr. He won there by five and a half lengths from Euchen Glen in second.

This was probably a deserved win, as he’d been running well in group company prior to that – but he will need to build on that, and some to have any sort of a chance of winning here.

Mac Swiney is winless since his Irish 2,000 Guineas win last year. He’s not ran terribly at all, but he’s not ran any race that suggests he may be up to taking this.

This looks a hail mary, but he might well get his ground – he does turn up in softer conditions, so that’s probably his only real edge now.

Last season’s Derby and King George winner – who came back with a bang last time out in a conditions stakes at Doncaster.

He had been off the track almost a year, but with that run to blow away the cobwebs – he must be greatly feared.

He’s a very high class horse, but is he on Baaeed’s level, and is this trip his optimum?

Bay Bridge had a cracking start to the season when winning the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown by 5L, with the field strung out like washing in behind.

He didn’t ran a bad race in the Prince Of Wales but he was expected to win. He ran fifth of six last time out in the Eclipse though, which will naturally see him fall down the pecking order.

He has questions to answer now, off the back of a lay off too, which may not aid his cause.

Stone Age was a five and a half length winner of a Derby trial at Leopardstown in May, but he may have regressed slightly since.

He’s only managed a place effort once in four runs since, and this was out at Belmont Park (USA) on firm ground. He looks to have a huge task on here, and on recent evidence he will likely struggle against some of these.

My Prospero is still hugely unexposed, having only ran five times. He’s won three, including a listed race at Sandown and most recently a French G2 on good to soft ground when stepped up to today’s trip for the first time.

He’s still unexposed, and he looks to be a confirmed stayer, but does he have the class to trade gloves with some of these?

Three parts of a length second in this race last year, Dubai Honour hasn’t entirely rubber-stamped his claims in the division last season.

He’s ran some solid races in defeat, but he hasn’t won in over a year now, and this race will demand a career best.