October 23rd, 2015 | 
Author: It's been a dizzying few months of top quality horse racing of late, as is…
Solow so hard to ignore for QEII
British Champions Day is looming at Ascot and while there are many stars likely to be on show, few have shone as brightly as Freddy Head’s brilliant miler, Solow, this season. Solow has moved himself to the undoubted position of being Europe’s leading hardened miler. He has racked up a hugely impressive run of victories that now stands at eight following his summer exploits in Britain.
There is nothing to suggest he won’t extend his flawless 2015 campaign to a perfect five from five by taking home the winner’s prize in excess of £623,000 on Saturday afternoon. Given his achievements this season, Solow ranks as the best proposition on the betfair markets as we look ahead to Champions Day.
The gelding has looked unstoppable this year and with a major doubt hanging over his chief market rival for Ascot, the quotes hovering around 2.00 at the time of writing could start to look more than generous. A clash between Solow and 2000 Guineas winner Gleneagles would make for a mouth-watering proposition but it is looking less and less likely the Ballydoyle inmate will stand his ground.
Having won the English and Irish 2000 Guineas, Gleneagles followed up in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. It was an impressive sequence, and at his best he would present a real threat, but Gleneagles has been forced to look on from the sidelines since June. Soft ground has scuppered his participation in the Sussex Stakes, Prix Jacques Le Marois, Juddmonte International and the Irish Champion Stakes. On each occasion there has been a will he, won’t he countdown to race day before, ultimately, Gleneagles was plucked from the line-up.
Solow has not raced on ground worse than good this season but his trainer is on record stating he feels some give underfoot may even bring about more improvement. That is a sobering thought for any of his rivals, even Gleneagles.
The winning margins in the Queen Anne at Ascot and the Sussex at Glorious Goodwood were quite slender – one length and half-a-length respectively – but there looks to be plenty more in reserve should Maxime Guyon need it. Even if Aidan O’Brien causes a shock and allows Gleneagles to line up, the Galileo colt could have his work cut out to lower the colours of this brilliant French horse.
Of the others, the Clive Cox-trained Kodi Bear has been well supported ante-post for the QEII after his win in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood in late August. He justified strong market vibes to land that Group 2 contest and while he has a chance with Solow on collateral form through the runner-up Gabrial, the proven top level performer is readily preferred at this stage. On Champions Day at Ascot, Solow could continue to prove so good – no matter who turns up to oppose him.