QIPCO Champion Stakes switches back to outer course

The QIPCO British Champion Stakes on Saturday will now be run on the outer course, along with the other races on QIPCO British Champions Day.

Originally the inner course was seen as a positive alternative for the season-highlight race but Clerk of the Course Chris Stickels has confirmed the outer course will be used.

Stickels said on Wednesday afternoon: “We will be moving it back to the outer course. We have had 1.5 millimetres of rain this morning and the ground is still good to firm, firm in places on the inner course. It is good, good to soft in places on the outer.

“After every effort we have put into providing an alternative it will not be used this year, but it will be there for use in future.

“We will have nice conditions this year [on the outer course]. There is rain about but not enough to make a difference [to the inner course].

“We needed to make a decision before declarations and we have firm ground out there. We would need an awful lot of rain to bring that round – 5-6mm of rain isn’t going to make an awful lot of difference.”

There are limited tickets left in the Queen Anne Enclosure (formerly Grandstand) if you would like to be at Ascot for Britain’s richest ever raceday.