The world’s best racehorse Frankel takes to the track for the final time in his career on Saturday, as he bids to enter retirement unbeaten.

Sir Henry Cecil’s prize colt is the unusually short price of 1/6 to take the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot, due mainly to the promise of soft ground, with the French challenger Cirrus Des Aigles backed into 7/2 in the ante-post markets.

Frankel, unbeaten in 13 starts, will also meet the John Gosden trained Nathaniel for the first time since the pair duelled in a Newmarket maiden three seasons ago.

Eclipse victor Nathaniel came closer than any horse since to beating Frankel in that race, however there is little market support for William Buick’s mount, who is available at a generous 8/1.

As with any recent Frankel race the real betting takes place in the specials markets. Without Frankel Cirrus Des Aigles is 4/6 on, while Nathaniel is 5/2. And it is 8/13 that Frankel wins by four lengths or more in a market which progresses up to 10 lengths at 8s.

A victory by that margin would see the Cecil trainee, who will go off under Tom Queally, emulate his Royal Ascot performance from this year which saw him romp home by 11 lengths.

That win was followed by a five length success at Goodwood before Queally and mount answered stamina questions by winning the Juddmonte International at York over 1m2f by seven lengths to the Godolphin Farrh.

In a fitting tribute to the now widely accepted best racehorse of all time the elements could prove to be Frankel’s biggest rival. Steady rain is forecast at Ascot over the coming days, falling on ground which is already soft.

That has led to the increasingly prevalent train of thought that last year’s winner Cirrus Des Aigles could cause an upset. The French challenger won a Group 2 at Longchamp on heavy ground two weeks ago by the Frankel-esque margin of nine lengths.

However, Frankel galloped on soft ground at Newmarket last week and was reported to have gone very well. He has also destroyed rivals such as St Nicholas Abbey by great distances whereas Cirrus Des Aigles only managed to carve out a 3/4 length advantage over the Breeders’ Cup champion earlier this year.

 

William Hill Qipco Champion Stakes Odds

Frankel 1/6
Cirrus Des Aigles 7/2
Nathaniel 8/1
Ridasiyna 16/1
Pastorius 33/1
Master Of Hounds 40/1
Declaration of War 50/1
Bullet Train 150/1

 

 

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