Strong Second Stage entries for QIPCO British Champions Day with Charyn leading the way in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Economics in the QIPCO Champion Stakes

Today’s second entry stage for the five Group races on QIPCO British Champions Day has seen the vast majority of the key players stand their ground. A total of 151 horses go forward in the five races, the highest figure in the past six years. Once again QIPCO British Champions Day, which takes place at Ascot on Saturday 19th October, is not only the flat season finale, but also the richest raceday staged in Britain all season. 

Red hot Champion could be the clash of the season

This year’s QIPCO Champion Stakes looks set to be another outstanding renewal with the improving Economics set to take his chance for William Haggas. Many of the French-trained horses remain in contention with the likes of Calandagan (Francis-Henri Graffard), Iresine (J-P Gauvin) and Facteur Cheval (Jerone Reynier) all poised to make the trip over the English Channel as things stand. As expected, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Goliath, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, has been removed from the race. Other notable names that remain after the second stage of entries include the Ballydoyle duo Auguste Rodin and City of Troy, whilst Al Riffa (Joseph O’ Brien) and Ambiente Friendly (James Fanshawe) also stand their ground.  

Newmarket-trainer Fanshawe commented, “Ambiente Friendly has just come back from ten days holiday and the Champion Stakes is definitely an option – we’ll just see how he is over the next ten days. The colt we saw in The Derby ought to have every chance, back at a mile and a quarter.”  

Classy Charyn out to end his breakthrough season on a high

Charyn is the hot favourite for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored by QIPCO) and he remains firmly on course for the race, with trainer Roger Varian commenting: “He’s in great form and Ascot, where he was very good in the Queen Anne, is the plan. He’s had a terrific season and it might have been even better, as he was arguably a bit unlucky at Longchamp in the Moulin, but at the start of the year we’d have been very happy to settle for what he’s already achieved.” 

Others in the mile showpiece include last year’s victor Big Rock (Maurizio Guarnieri), trained in France, as is Metropolitan (Mario Baratti), who is an intended runner. Impressive QIPCO 2000 Guineas champion Notable Speech (Charlie Appleby) and Inspiral (John & Thady Gosden) also remain in the race at this stage. 

Long Distance division reaches a deafening crescendo as Kyprios remains on course

The only notable initial entry that will not go to post in the QIPCO Champions Long Distance Cup is Courage Mon Ami, winner of the 2023 Gold Cup at Ascot’s Royal meeting. Kyprios (Aidan O’Brien) remains in the race, along with last year’s victor Trawlerman. Stablemate Sweet William (John & Thady Gosden) also stands firm and will pose a threat to all off the back of his win in the Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup last month. The ever-popular Trueshan (Alan King) is also still in the race, having won it three times previously.  

Al Nayyir, trained by Tom Clover, was second at York’s Ebor Festival in August and won easily last weekend. The impressive son of Dubawi is an intended runner and Clover said, “Al Nayyir looks to have come out of his race at Newmarket nicely and he looks great, so all being well we are heading to Champions Day with him. 

“Luke Morris had felt after riding work on him before Newmarket that he’d come forward for York, but even so, I can’t say I expected him to win in quite the style he did. You sometimes get exaggerated distances on that easy ground, but with a smooth run I hope we can have a good crack at the QIPCO Long Distance Cup.” 

Sprint stars set for Ascot showdown

In the QIPCO Champions Sprint, many of the horses that have won or featured in other races as part of this year’s QIPCO British Champions Series remain in the frame. They include Audience (John & Thady Gosden), Mill Stream (Jane Chapple-Hyam), Montassib (William Haggas) and Inisherin (Kevin Ryan).   

Monstassib won the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock last month, with Kind of Blue in second and the latter’s trainer James Fanshawe commented, “Kind of Blue has been in good form since his second in the Betfair Sprint Cup and James Doyle came and had a sit on him on Saturday as he’s now owned by Wathnan Racing. The Champions Sprint at Ascot is the plan for him and it’s a race we’ve won before with both Deacon Blues and The Tin Man.  

“Kind of Blue is out of a sister to Deacon Blues and a half-sister to The Tin Man, so he’s their nephew if you like. They were both four-year-olds when they won on Champions Day and Kind of Blue is only three, but he’s by Blue Point and a big, strong colt. He hopefully has a bright future.” 

After a titanic tussle inside the final furlong during last year’s edition of the £500,000 sprint feature, both Art Power (Tim Easterby) and Kinross (Ralph Beckett) are set to renew their rivalry, with both still in the mix after the second entry stage today.

Domestic Champions meet foreign pretenders in high-class QIPCO Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes

The QIPCO Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes sees 29 remain in contention with high profile names such as Bluestocking (Ralph Beckett), Opera Singer (Aidan O’Brien), Content (Aidan O’Brien), Emily Upjohn (John & Thady Gosden) and Kalpana (Andrew Balding) all included. The first three all run this week at Newmarket/Longchamp and will be aiming to enjoy success en-route to Ascot a fortnight later. The German-trained Quantanamera (Andreas Suborics) is a likely runner.