G FORCE and Custom Cut head to Ascot for Champions Day action this afternoon with bright prospects of crowning a tremendous campaign for North Yorkshire trainer David O'Meara.

The former jump jockey, based at Nawton, near Helmsley, has posted an impressive list of big-race triumphs in England, Scotland, Ireland and France this year and now stands on the threshold of striking it rich yet again.

G Force, successful in the Group 1 Betfred Sprint Trophy at Haydock on his latest start, lines-up in the Group 2 £366,000 Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes, while Custom Cut, winner of his last five starts and successful at York in August, has the Group 1 £1.15 million Queen Elizabeth ll Stakes in his sights. Danny Tudhope takes the mount on both horses.

G Force has made gigantic strides this year. A once-raced maiden at the start of the season, his Haydock triumph at the premier level confirmed him to be a top-notch sprinter. He now has the opportunity to cement that position with another notable success and carries the nap vote.

Custom Cut has been a revelation this season. He has won two Listed races, two Group 3 events and, most recently, the Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket which he won with complete authority.

This Group 1 showpiece is his toughest test to date, but he is adaptable ground-wise and the rain-soaked course should not bother him. It will also not pose any problems for Brian Ellison's Top Notch Tonto, who increases the North Yorkshire challenge in a race in which he finished second last year to Olympic Glory.

Top Notch Tonto has conditions in his favour to produce another seasonal best, but Custom Cut has a stronger overall profile.

The £250,000 Balmoral Handicap has a whole host of North Yorkshire runners, including three from Richard Fahey's yard and two from the Ellison stable, including the hat-trick seeking Baraweez, but the vote goes to John Quinn's Levitate, who will relish the conditions and will have the added advantage of Joe Doyle's 5lb allowance.

A good fifth at Doncaster and York on his last two starts, Levitate, a former Lincoln Handicap winner, makes plenty of appeal.

In the Qipco Champion Stakes, brilliant French raider Cirrus Des Aigles, disqualified after winning at Longchamp last time, will be a popular choice among punters to gain compensation. But he could have a mighty task on his hands trying to concede 5lb to the younger Free Eagle, who is a half-brother to Custom Cut.

Dermot Weld's colt, who has won two of his three starts, was a seven-length winner of a Group 3 race at Leopardstown last month on his belated seasonal debut. He lacks experience, but is not lacking in class, and Free Eagle is expected to give his eight rivals plenty to think about.

The Queen's admirable mare Estimate is narrowly preferred to Leading Light in the opening Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup, while Paul Hanagan has a talented mount in Hadaatha, who ran a blinder to finish third at Longchamp a fortnight ago.

At Catterick, Arctic Feeling has every chance of landing the featured £25,000 totepool Catterick Dash.

Apprentice Sammy-Jo Bell has adopted a wonderful rapport with Richard Fahey's sprinter and gained her latest success on him at York last weekend. This is probably tougher, but Arctic Feeling is in such great heart that he commands plenty of respect.

Fahey can also score with Spirit Of Zeb (1.25) and English Summer (2.30), who bids to provide George Chaloner with his first winner without a riding allowance. The apprentice came of age earlier this week at Newcastle when riding his 95th winner and joining the fully-fledged ranks.


Selections

Ascot today
1.45 Estimate, 2.20 G Force (NAP), 2.55 Hadaatha, 3.30 Custom Cut, 4.05 Free Eagle, 4.45 Levitate.

Catterick today
1.25 Spirit Of Zeb, 1.55 Wiener Valkyrie, 2.30 English Summer, 3.05 Arctic Feeling, 3.40 Sioux Chieftain, 4.15 Solar Spirit, 4.50 Midnight Warrior, 5.20 Rockweiller.

Today's other meetings
Cheltenham, Kelso and Wolverhampton.

Tomorrow's meetings
Bath and Kempton.