All to play for at this year’s QIPCO British Champions Day as field start to take shape 

QIPCO British Champions Day takes place this Saturday, 19th October, and all six races look set to be of the highest quality, with over £4.1m in prize money. The UK’s richest raceday has attracted strong fields for the four Group 1s, the Group 2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup and the Balmoral Handicap, which is the richest mile handicap in the UK.  

Highlights include the much anticipated match-up between Economics and Calandagan in the showpiece race, the QIPCO Champion Stakes, and the return of Kyprios to Ascot in the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup. It is likely that the latter will be taken on by Trawlerman, winner of the race in 2023.  

The 129 horses left in the six races include Prague, trained by Dylan Cunha, who has been supplemented for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored by QIPCO).  

Tickets for QIPCO British Champions Day are on sale from just £32 per person, though only the final few tickets remain in the King Edward and Winning Post Enclosures. Tickets can be purchased from britishchampionsday.com.  

QIPCO CHAMPION STAKES (GROUP 1) £1,300,000 

Economics and Calandagan remain firmly on course for the afternoon’s most eagerly anticipated head-to-head in the QIPCO Champion Stakes, and their riders are equally bullish about their prospects in the £1.3m 1m2f Group 1, for which there are 17 confirmations. 

Tom Marquand, who won the 2020 Champion Stakes on the William Haggas-trained Addeybb, can’t wait to get back on board the same stable’s latest star Economics, whose Irish Champion Stakes defeat of Auguste Rodin confirmed him among the most exciting horses in training. 

Marquand said: “I had another spin on Economics a couple of weeks ago and he felt fantastic. He’ll have to contend with slower ground than in Ireland, but we are hopeful he’s versatile in that respect and that he’ll be just as effective. 

“Winning the Irish Champion Stakes on him was a massive thrill. He had to fight for it, but he showed how good he is, and we are hoping he’ll show that class again and win the Ascot version. 

“I was lucky to win it before on Addeybb, and although he wasn’t quite my first English Group 1, it’s a big day and a big race to win.” 

Stephane Pasquier enjoyed a stunning six-length win in Royal Ascot’s King Edward VII Stakes on Calandagan, who stepped up again and lost nothing in defeat when runner-up to Derby winner City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International at York.  

Speaking at Newmarket on Friday, where he enjoyed an easy win in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes, Pasquier could scarcely contemplate defeat on Calandagan, who he describes as “a fantastic horse” and one who would have no problems if the ground became testing. 

He said: “It’s a strong race, but Calandagan did something so special at Ascot and again at York. He has a very good turn of foot and it would need something very special to beat him. It would need City Of Troy to beat him!”        

He confirmed that he keeps the ride on the Francis Graffard-trained three-year-old, even though owner-breeder the Aga Khan has recently appointed Mickael Barzalona as his retained rider for 2025 and said: “I’m definitely riding him at Ascot, and that’s good news for him, and good news for me also. I rode him in work last week and he was very good. He is a fantastic horse and he’s in good form. When I rode him last week he was perfect.” 

Aidan O’Brien’s Nassau Stakes winner Opera Singer is finished for the year and Auguste Rodin and City Of Troy have alternative targets, but the stable nevertheless has no fewer than six possibles, headed by Irish Derby winner Los Angeles, who was third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last time.  

He is joined by last year’s St Leger winner Continuous, this year’s Coronation Cup victor Luxembourg, Yorkshire Oaks winner Content, St James’s Palace runner-up Henry Longfellow and possible pace-setter Hans Andersen. 

John and Thady Gosden have confirmed their triple Group 1 winner Nashwa for both this race and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, while France could also be represented by last month’s Prix Foy winner Iresine, on whom regular rider Marie Velon is already a dual Group 1 winner. 

The other confirmations include Arc disappointment Al Riffa, the Nassau runner-up See The Fire, last year’s fifth Royal Rhyme, and progressive three-year-olds King’s Gambit and Persica. 

QUEEN ELIZABETH II (SPONSORED BY QIPCO) (GROUP 1) £1,156,250 – increased figure due to supplementary entry  

The Queen Anne and Prix Jacques Le Marois winner Charyn heads 16 possibles going forward for the £1.15m Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO). He will be one of the afternoon’s hottest favourites but might not have things his own way after connections of Prague stumped up £70,000 to supplement their winner of Newmarket’s Group 2 Joel Stakes and David Menuisier confirmed the recent Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes winner Tamfana as an intended runner. 

Dylan Cunha, the former airline pilot who is in just his third season with a training licence here in Britain, worked Prague on Saturday. After running all the necessary checks this morning, he and the four-year-old’s Italian owner Amedeo Del Pos, the stable’s head lad, had no hesitation in supplementing the gelding, who was a £10,000 purchase out of Aidan O’Brien’s stable. 

Cunha said: “It’s been the plan since his win at Newmarket and we just needed to scope him and make sure everything was in tip-top condition after a gallop on Saturday. We are not Coolmore, so with £70,000 at stake we have to make sure, but the vet was as happy as Larry. He’s in grand form. 

“The horse has earned the supplementary fee in prize money, so the money is sitting in Amedeo’s Weatherbys account. I said to him this morning that his ten-grand horse was about to become an 80-grand horse, but if anyone could buy a runner in a Group 1 for 80 grand they would spend that much wouldn’t they.” 

He added: “It’s the British Champions Series, so it’s a strong race and we go there under no illusions. Charyn is the horse to beat, and Nashwa has looked unreal on the gallops. We need to improve another 5lb to win it, but Prague is in flying form and on the up, so we’ve got to take our chance. We are respectful of everyone, but we are confident in our horse.” 

Tamfana came into the reckoning after her Group 1 breakthrough in the Sun Chariot Stakes, and she has come out of that race well.  

“It was fantastic to get the Group 1 and it looks as if we are going to go again with her,” confirmed trainer David Menuisier. “She’d knocked on the door all season and hadn’t been the luckiest, so it was important to win a Group 1, for the filly especially, and for the connections. 

“It didn’t seem to take a lot out of her as she’s bouncing, so all things being equal she’ll run again on Saturday. She has a phenomenal constitution. I might run Sirona too. We’ll see what’s left in the race. “ 

Charyn is arguably unlucky not to be unbeaten in all of his six races this season, his seconds in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes and the Prix du Moulin having both been in tactical races in which a clear front runner never came back to the field. Unsurprisingly, he will face plenty of his old rivals here, including the French 2000 Guineas winner Metropolitan, who was a three-length second in the Marois, and Quddwah, who was fourth there. 

Simon Crisford, joint trainer of Quddwah, is looking forward to the rematch and said: “Quddwah hasn’t run since the Jacques Le Marois so we are looking forward to seeing him back on the track. He’s been going well and a bit of soft ground will help him. 

“He’s obviously fairly lightly raced, but he’s come a long way and he’s still learning. I thought it was a pleasing effort in the Marois, and he was just two heads off finishing second. We also run Poker Face and he’s in good form too. He was second (to Prague) at Newmarket last time and we are very pleased with him.” 

Aidan O’Brien has confirmed Diego Velazquez and Henry Longfellow, while France is set to be represented by Dubai Turf winner Facteur Cheval, who was a six-length second to compatriot Big Rock here a year ago. 

QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SPRINT STAKES (GROUP 1) £500,000 

A star-studded line-up is assured for the £500,000 QIPCO British Champions Sprint, and all is still to play for as July Cup winner Mill Stream and Betfred Sprint Cup hero Montassib head a clutch of speedsters vying for top honours.  

The 22 confirmations also include the 2022 British Champions Sprint winner Kinross, who was second in the Prix de la Foret last time, and Art Power, who was a shock winner from Kinross a year ago and is set to make his fifth successive appearance in the race. 

Mill Stream’s trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam is looking forward to the showdown and said: “He’s been our flagbearer this year, and a good one at that, winning the July Cup and before that winning the Duke of York and finishing third at Royal Ascot. He’s been so consistent and he’s never let us down. When he ran at Deauville last time it was six and a half furlongs. We thought he’d get it on a flat track, but the extra half furlong was just too far for him. 

“Everything has been smooth sailing and we are all very pleased with him. He worked on the racecourse at Newmarket the week before last. He’s not a flashy worker, but he did everything that was asked of him and Wiliam (Buick) was pleased with him.  

“I think his form is as good as any, and he goes there in very good order. He’ll be doing his best and I think he’s good value. We are lucky to have William again. He’s my super-sub. He came in for Saffron Beach, and he’s come in for Mill Stream. We call him when we need him!” 

Wathnan Racing is looking to continue its love affair with Ascot after buying Kind Of Blue after he was beaten a head by Montassib in the Haydock Sprint Cup. 

The Qatar operation has enjoyed five Royal Ascot winners in its two-year existence and has tapped into what is hoped to be a continued family success story with the James Fanshawe-trained three-year-old. 

The Newmarket trainer explained: “Kind of Blue is out of a sister to Deacon Blues, who won the first QIPCO British Champions Sprint, and a half-sister to The Tin Man, who won the race in 2016. They were both four-year-olds when they won the race and Kind Of Blue is only three but he’s by Blue Point and a big strong colt, hopefully with a bright future.” 

Flora Of Bermuda, who was a fast-finishing fifth in the Haydock race, is ready for a rematch with her rider Oisin Murphy hoping for better luck in running. 

The Champion Jockey-elect said: “Flora Of Bermuda was unlucky at Haydock as we got stuck behind the wrong horses. She goes to Ascot in good shape and the ground won’t be a problem. I just hope we get a better trip on her.” 

The Prix de la Foret third Beauvatier is a French challenger. Trainer Yann Barberot said: “He ran an exceptional final straight and showed an incredible turn of foot to be the fastest of the race in the final furlongs. He is training very well and improving with each race.” 

The front-running Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes winner Audience is an intriguing runner for the Gosden camp. He beat Art Power by four lengths over seven furlongs in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood and he is much improved since being beaten on both starts over shorter distances in his younger days. 

Bucanero Fuerte and Moss Tucker are among the other Group 1 entries confirmed.  

QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS FILLIES & MARES STAKES (GROUP 1) £500,000 

There could be few more fitting winners on QIPCO British Champions Day than Queen Of The Pride, who represents Qatar Racing and whose sire and dam were both winners on the day carrying the same colours, with Roaring Lion landing the 2018 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Simple Verse winning the 2015 Fillies & Mares. 

With their 2022 QIPCO Champions Fillies & Mares winner Emily Upjohn being prepared for the Breeders’ Cup, John and Thady Gosden rely on Queen Of The Pride and Danielle to give the stable a fourth winner of the race in the last nine years.  

Queen Of The Pride showed her class when beating Tiffany by three lengths in the Lancashire Oaks, form which would give her a strong chance here, but she was a major disappointment next time in the Yorkshire Oaks, with no obvious excuse. 

Oisin Murphy said: “She obviously has to get over the disappointment of York, but she’s training well at the moment and when I rode her work last week, she felt her old self. She was never on the bridle there, but they did all of the tests and found nothing, so we don’t know what happened that day. 

“Her dam won the Fillies & Mares and she didn’t mind soft ground, but Queen Of The Pride is by Roaring Lion and I think she prefers better ground, so I hope it doesn’t get too deep.” 

Stablemate Danielle has also been confirmed for the race and John Gosden, successful here with Journey and Star Catcher as well as Emily Upjohn, said: “She had time off in the summer, going back to her owner’s stud for a holiday. She has been working well and hopefully the ground will be on the soft side, which she relishes.” 

Andrew Balding is looking forward to saddling Kalpana, the short-priced ante-post favourite since her impressive win in the September Stakes at Kempton last month. 

The Juddmonte home-bred will be looking to restore three-year-old dominance in the Group 1 after last year Poptronic broke a sequence of six successes for the classic generation. 

Balding said: “She is very talented and in great form. This race is a good fit for her. If the ground is soft that is an unknown but her form is very solid – if you look back at the Pretty Polly and what Friendly Soul has achieved. 

“Her only disappointing run was in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot but there was a slightly false pace which didn’t suit her.”  

Aidan O’Brien can choose from Content, who is also confirmed for the Champion Stakes, Grateful, Lily Hart and Port Fairy. His son Joseph has confirmed Lumiere Rock and Thunder Roll, while Sumiha and Village Voice are further Irish-trained possibles. 

Also among the 19 confirmations for a race which has a maximum field of 14 are the improving Elite Racing Club home-bred Tiffany, who was second to Queen Of The Pride in the Lancashire Oaks before winning a Group 2 in Germany last time, German-trained Quantanamera, and Oaks third War Chimes. 

QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS LONG DISTANCE CUP (GROUP 2) £450,000 

Kyprios has swept all before him so far this year in an unbeaten run of six races, including the Gold Cup at Ascot, the Goodwood Cup and the Prix du Cadran, but his old rival Trawlerman is among those out to halt that run in the £450,000 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup, for which there are 13 confirmations. 

The pair served up a memorable curtain-raiser on QIPCO British Champions Day a year ago when Trawlerman rallied under an inspired Frankie Dettori to beat the dual Ascot Gold Cup winner by a neck. Kyprios gained revenge over the longer trip in the Gold Cup, but only by a length. 

Trawlerman’s trainer John Gosden, who shares the licence with his son Thady, is relishing the rematch over two miles, and they also have last year’s third Sweet William, who has twice been placed behind Kyprios this year before easily winning the Doncaster Cup in Kyprios’ absence last time. 

Gosden snr said: “Trawlerman had a hard race in the Gold Cup so we put him away – he had a nice holiday on his owner’s stud farm. He has come back in and is in great order for the possible rematch. 

“Sweet William didn’t run in the Cadran as the ground was heavy. He ran a great race last time in the Doncaster Cup.” 

Aidan O’Brien had a positive update on Kyprios after his win in that Qatar Prix du Cadran. 

“Kyprios remains a possible for the race,” said the trainer, who like Gosden is a three-time winner of the race since 2011.  “He has come out of his Longchamp win very well.” 

The stable has also confirmed Continuous, Point Lonsdale, Grosvenor Square, Illinois and The Euphrates. 

Another notable contender is the well-travelled Al Nayyir, touched off by Vauban in the Group 2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York after joining trainer Tom Clover this summer before romping away with the Jockey Club Rose Bowl on soft ground at Newmarket last month. 

BALMORAL HANDICAP (SPONSORED BY QIPCO) £200,000 

Holloway Boy, who beat Queen Elizabeth II fancy Prague in a Group 3 at Haydock last time, stands his ground with top weight in the Balmoral Handicap, which has 42 confirmations but a maximum field of 20.  

Ante-post favourite Qirat needs just three of those above him to come out in order to make the cut, but Volterra who was disputing favouritism with him, and Movie Maker, another leading fancy in the betting, are among those who have not been confirmed. 

Wigmore Street and State Actor, separated by a head in a dramatic Irish Cambridgeshire, are among the key possibles from Ireland, while Silver Legend, impressive in three races in Scandinavia this year, is an intriguing runner from Sweden. 

Holloway Boy’s trainer Karl Burke has a terrific record in these big handicaps and he has also confirmed smart York winner Thunder Run, but not Cambridgeshire winner Liberty Lane, who was second at Newmarket on Saturday. 

The Cambridgeshire form is still set to be represented, principally by third-placed Toimy Son, whose trainer David Menuisier is optimistic, draw and other vagaries permitting. 

Menuisier said: “Toimy Son ran a super race when third in the Cambridgeshire, especially as the extra furlong wasn’t really to his liking. It’s going to be a big field and it will be draw dependent, but if the ground is on the soft side I think he’ll run a big race. I don’t think he’d want it too deep though.” 

ASCOT GROUND UPDATE 

Chris Stickels, Clerk of the Course and Head of Racing at Ascot, said: “The forecast is unsettled and we are expecting some heavy showers throughout the week and then into Saturday morning. We’ve had 10mm on Monday morning which has meant the Round Course is now Heavy, Soft in places. Given that, and the volume of rain forecast, it’s quite likely we’ll end up on the Inner Flat Course on Saturday.  

“Forecasts can change, but at the moment that’s the impression we’ve got, and we’ll aim to make the decision as soon as we can, so everyone has clarity. It is currently Soft on the Inner Flat Course.”  

Track update at 11am Monday ahead of QIPCO British Champions Day this Saturday: 

• Straight Course – Soft  

• Round Course – Heavy, Soft in places  

• Inner Flat Course – Soft   As per the race conditions, if “Heavy” appears in the Going description by 8am on Thursday, Round course races will switch to the Inner Flat Course. Latest weather and Going updates can be found here: https://www.ascot.com/thegoing