Gordon Lord Byron given Champions Day agenda

Gordon Lord Byron powers to Champions Day success last year. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Trainer Tom Hogan has targeted retaining his QIPCO British Champions Day crown at Ascot as a top priority for sprinter Gordon Lord Byron.

The seven-year-old, who will race in the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock Park this Saturday, was the victor in last season’s QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes and is on course to feature in this year’s renewal.

The newly-upgraded Group 1 contest has also been earmarked as the final race of the career for Europe’s leading sprinter Muhaarar, but connections are adamant that they will not shy away from the challenge to take the title back to Ireland on Saturday 17 October.

“Gordon Lord Byron is heading to Haydock this Saturday and is in great shape, bearing in mind he was quite stiff when he ran last time at The Curragh,” said Hogan. “We’re very happy with him and are hopeful he will run a good race.

“All options are open to him for the rest of the campaign as he’s a fairly durable horse. We’re very much looking at returning to Ascot with him for Champions Day. We had a great time last year.

“It’s nice to run well, but it’s even nicer to win – especially when we were breaking our duck with him at Ascot.

“He’d be up against Muhaarar, who is an incredibly good horse. However, we are never afraid to be beaten with him.”

To book your place at QIPCO British Champions Day 2015, head to the ticketing website.