Talking Horses: Modern Games can leave Inspiral in a spin at Ascot

With Baaeed certain to start at long odds-on for the feature event on Champions Day, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes makes more appeal from a betting point of view and Modern Games (3.20) may spring a minor upset at around 4-1 by defeating the warm favourite, Inspiral.

Charlie Appleby’s colt was possibly seen as the third-string, behind Coroebus and Native Trail, in the yard’s strong hand of three-year-old milers in the early stages of the season, but he followed up his win in the French 2,000 Guineas with a solid third from a bad draw in the French Derby before proving no match for Baaeed in the Sussex Stakes. That run confirmed that a mile is his trip and Modern Games took his form to a new level in a Grade One at Woodbine last time, accelerating five lengths clear of a classy opponent in Ivar.

Anything close to that form on Saturday would make him a serious opponent for Inspiral, who has not been easy to train this year and was beaten at 1-7 in the Falmouth Stakes in July. She was a comfortable neck winner over Light Infantry in the Prix Jacques le Marois last time, which was also her first start against male rivals, but Modern Games is a stronger and more seasoned opponent with a much better chance than the market suggests.

Newton Abbot 1.10 Gin Coco 1.45 Planned Paradise 2.20 Valentino 2.55 Him Malaya 3.30 Sabrina 4.05 Pic D’Orhy 4.35 Haddex Des Obeaux 5.10 Izayte 

Market Rasen 1.17 Free Handshake 1.52 The Role Model 2.27 Kihavah 3.02 Master Malachy 3.37 Tamaroc Du Mathan 4.14 Living’s Boy An Co 4.45 Notimeforanother

Ascot 1.25 Eldar Eldarov 2.00 Rohaan 2.40 Mimikyu 3.20 Modern Games (nb) 4.00 Baaeed 4.40 Blue For You (nap) 

Catterick Bridge1.35 Young And Fun 2.10 Glory And Gold 2.45 Arranmore 3.15 King Of Tonga 3.50