There is a huge day of racing at Ascot this afternoon on Champions Day and it is just a shame that one of the season’s highlights is going to be run on very testing ground. 

Still, there is an upside to that in the form of Levitate in the Balmoral Handicap at 4.45.

John Quinn’s charge last won at Doncaster in November on soft ground off a mark of 98 and was subsequently raised to a handicap high rating of 106. Six runs later and the six-year-old has been shown some mercy by the handicapper and is set to run here off a rating of 95, less Joe Doyle’s 5lbs claim.

Even better, the best bet of the day has shown on his last two outings at Doncaster and York that his turn is close and the icing on the cake is the fact that he has run well at Ascot before when showing up well in the Royal Hunt Cup in June on ground which was way too quick for him.

As you would expect in a field of 28 there are plenty of dangers including the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Russian Royale. 

This lightly raced four-year-old started off the season by winning on soft ground at Goodwood and has not been disgraced on four outings since.

His last run over an extended mile at Chester was better than the final result suggests as he experienced far from a clear run finishing a never nearer fifth behind the smart Ocean Tempest.

This heavy surface won’t prove a problem and a mark of 95 still looks viable if he gets the run of the race this time around.

Of the remainder, Sirius Prospect ran well over seven furlongs here last time out and is just as effective over this mile, while Chatez and Tigers Tale also have claims at opposite ends of the betting market.

The feature race of the day, the Champion Stakes at 4.05, looks at the mercy of that grand old gelding Cirrus Des Aigles and he should gain compensation for being disqualified in the Prix Dollar. This former winner has looked as good as ever this season with wins in the Prix Ganay, Coronation Cup and Prix d’Ispahan and can take his career winnings through the £6m mark here.

The Sprint at 2.20 looks hugely open and slight preference is  for the mud-loving Jack Dexter. 

Given a mid-season break by Jim Goldie, last year’s runner-up may be too strong at the business end for the likes of the filly Viztoria and 2012 winner Maarek.

The QEII Stakes at 3.30 looks at the mercy of the 2,000 Guineas’ hero Night of Thunder who can gain revenge on Charm Spirit who beat him in the Prix du Moulin.

Elsewhere, take a second look at well handicapped Magical Macey in the big sprint at 3.25, while Prophesy could go well off bottom weight in the mile and a half handicap at 3.40.