LiveScore Racing News: Haggas hoping for Addeybb repeat

William Haggas is hoping Addeybb can become a dual winner of the QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot this Saturday.

The prestigious Group One contest will be the centrepiece of QIPCO British Champions Day, with 14 possibles having been left in at the five-day confirmations stage on Monday, including defending champion Addeybb, who edged out the likes of Skalleti and Magical to win last year's renewal.

Addeybb has only run once since that success, coming in second to St Mark's Basilica in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown back in July. 

But Haggas does not believe the seven-year-will be coming in underprepared, especially if the ground remains on the softer side.

He said: "We are very pleased with Addeybb's condition. We'd like rain for him, and the more the better, but it doesn't look as if we are going to get it.

"I'd be surprised if it was quick ground though, as it was so wet there at the last meeting, and he'll run.

"I'd have loved him to have had a run, as it's a top, top race, but he goes well fresh and he can win off a lay-off. His last two weeks have been really good."

Addeybb will certainly have to be at his best if he is to defend his title, with 10 of the 14 confirmed runners having previously won at Group One level, including Cazoo Derby and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes victor Adayar and Mishriff, who triumphed in the Juddmonte International at York in August.

Haggas also looks set to run the talented if unpredictable Al Aasy, as well as highly rated three-year-old Dubai Honour in Saturday's race, and the Somerville Lodge handler insists neither horse will be entered to merely make up the numbers.

He added: "Dubai Honour is a nice young horse who has won two Group 2s. He's doing very well physically and he's a pretty useful horse. This will be a big rise in class for him but we've got nothing to lose.

"I'm also running Al Aasy and he's not without hope, dropping back in trip. Everyone questions him bar me, but he's a very, very talented horse."

Saturday's renewal of the Champion Stakes is scheduled to take place at 3.50pm.