A cracking night's action awaits us at Romford with six heats of the Champion Stakes over 575m. If you can't get along to the London road stadium, you can catch the action live in Coral shops. I have two ante post selections plus picks for all six heats.
Most bookies are going 5/1 the field with each way terms 1/4 the first four places. Seamus Cahill's Raving Black is a confident pick to reach the final and 5/1 is available with bet 365. His main rival in the betting is Mark Wallis' Derby finalist Adageo, who has taken the step up to Romford's sharp six bend trip in his stride, where his good early and middle pace over the 575m serves him well. However, Raving Black, recent Cesarewitch winner at Oxford, normally comes from off the pace, which means it's not all about leading, and if encountering traffic problems his great track craft will be a handy tool. A few weeks ago he gave Adageo a few lengths start but still managed to collar his rival on the run in. Another plus is that he has been showing a bit more early pace of late, so he could even turn handy on the first circuit. Raving Black is 10 from 12 over C&D, and I cannot see him failing to make the final which makes him a maximum each way bet. His campaign gets under way in heat 2 at 8.01, where he is odds on with Coral.
This competition is normally won from the front, but my second selection is again a strong running sort. I feel that if the final is made up of four or five front runners, it could be set up for a finisher, so Centurion Enry will be my second selection. William Hill are offering 20/1 on the Paul Young trained runner, so an each way saver is advised. We have backed him in his last couple of runs where he has been unlucky in running, and although he lines up against Adageo he will be difficult to keep out of the first three. He has fared well in the draw in heat 6 at 9.04 as the sole middle seed in trap 3. Centurion Enry should get a good run to the first bend, with early pace in 4, 5, and 6 there could be early crowding on the outside. Enry has had only two runs back after a lay off, and he could be coming to form at the right time.
Heat 1, 7.45 - Lolos Schillagi in trap 6 has improved out of all recognition in the last few weeks. Having witnessed a 9 1/4 length demolition of S1 rivals, I put it down to one flashy run. However, last week Paul Young's black repeated the dose in an open, winning by 4 1/2 lengths in 35.54. Barnfield Rocky in trap 2 is a danger but may get held up early on. Let's strike while the iron is hot and take the 2/1 on offer with Coral.
Heat 2 8.01 - our ante post selection Raving Black can land odds of 4/5 with the sponsors, by out -staying Honey Trampas.
Heat 3 8.17 - there are bound to be shocks in tonight's first round, but I cannot see 5/6 shot Farloe Titan getting beat. Paul Sallis' charge won the Betfair Arc, and flew around here in June clocking 35.47. He has a middle seed ouside him in trap 2 and the 5/6 may look big as the traps open and the red jacketed selection flies to the bend.
Heat 4 8.32 - This is a tricky heat, where there is plenty of early pace on the outside. Extremely Ard was impressive when bolting up on 30th July, and the comment 'won well' attributed to that run, is not used too often by Romford. However, All That noise in trap 6 has a plot draw outside railing kennel mate Dalcash Scolari in 5. He may not be the strongest of stayers but the draw may enable him to poach a big enough lead, and trouble behind would help. Mark Wallis' charge can be backed at 3/1.
Heat 5 8.48 - Ballymac Rumble was outpointed by Borna Payment last week, but he can gain revenge tonight from Romford's pinging trap 3 by making all. Borna Payment is a middle seed in trap 6 and if he leads he wins, but Ballymac Rumble, priced up at 13/8, can hold his pitch on the inside to land this.
Heat 6 9.04 - Centurion Enry can land this final heat priced up at 3/1. His chances have been outlined in the main ante post article.
