Tom Marquand aiming for more glory at Ascot’s Champions Day

As Britain went into lockdown, Marquand was taking Australian racing by storm by landing two Group One races in Sydney – the first of his career – on the William Haggas-trained horse.

Now the jockey, who landed a first Classic in last month’s St Leger at Doncaster on Galileo Chrome, hopes to cap a year to remember by landing today’s Qipco Champion Stakes on the gutsy Addeybb.

It will also be further confirmation of his emergence as one of Britain’s top jockey after Marquand, and partner Hollie Doyle, lit up an otherwise challenging 2020 for so many with their riding.

Twelve months ago, he was just an interested observer when Addeybb, then ridden by James Doyle, chased home Aidan O’Brien’s Magical who bids to defend her big race crown today. But Marquand and Yorkshire-born Haggas are now one of the Flat’s most powerful forces heading into today’s showcase fixture, with the jockey riding his 100th domestic winner of 2020 yesterday.

“He’s an incredible ride to have. He’s a dual Group One winner and I am thoroughly looking forward to getting aboard him after winning his prep race at Ayr last month,” Marquand, 22, told The Yorkshire Post.

That race saw Addeybb concede weight to rivals of the calibre of former Royal Ascot winner Lord Glitters on another giddy day when Marquand took the Ayr Gold Cup – and supporting card – by storm. “He was giving weight away to horses like Lord Glitters, and he is no mug. It’s a hard thing,” said the jockey.

“He bumped into Magical at Ascot in the race last year and if you can run three-quarters (of a length) second, you are a solid Group One horse.

“Hopefully, this is his go at giving it a proper shot. He still seems to be improving. What will be will be, but hopefully he can put his best foot forward and run his heart out. It is going to be an ultra-competitive race, as it should be, but what a great ride to have in the race.”

The one slight concern – and no more – is the ground. Marquand was chatting while driving past Ascot and the dry clouds were a source of some frustration.

“He wants bottomless ground,” said the rider. “But it should still be testing enough with all the recent rain. As long as the ground says ‘soft’ in the description, it will be okay.”

He should know. When Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum’s horse won the Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill, the first of his two big successes in Australia, the going was good to soft and Addeybb, he says, had to be warrior-like to win in those conditions. Yet three weeks later, on ground declared officially soft for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick, the horse thrived on the more demanding underfoot conditions.

“As anyone who has watched the first race will tell you, he won through his guts,” explained Marquand. “On the second day it was a lot softer and he cruised home. It shows how much the ground can make a difference.

“He will always hold a special place in my heart because he was my first Group One winner. I hope there are more big days to be had with him, which I’m sure there will be.

“Champions Day will be great if he can get a first Group One in the UK – that will be a bonus and the horse deserves a race like that. While he’s done it twice in Australia, it will be great to do it here.

“He’a dual Group One winner and William (Haggas) will have him spot on. He has had a few years of practice with him in getting him ready for certain days and he has pretty much nailed that.”

Helmsley trainer David O’Meara will, once again, expect a strong showing from Lord Glitters in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over a mile; he also has the outsider Escobar.

In the British Champions Sprint, Dream Of Dreams is favourite for champion jockey Oisin Murphy and veteran trainer Sir Michael Stoute – but one of the big threats could come from Marquand on the aptly-named Starman for the Ed Walker team.

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