12 Oct 2011

Beautiful sunny day forecast for Saturday!

Ascot is set to be bathed in sunshine for the richest day in British racing history.

Almost unbroken sunshine and temperatures of around 17 degrees centigrade are forecast for Ascot on Saturday when QIPCO British Champions Day, the richest day of horseracing ever staged in this country, takes place at the Royal racecourse.

"We couldn’t have asked for a better weather forecast," said Rod Street, Chief Executive of British Champions Series.

"We have an absolutely fantastic day in store, with a sensational array of equine stars led by the awesome Frankel ready to battle it out on the track for £3 million in prize money.

"Grandstand admission tickets will be on sale at the gate on Saturday priced at £26 for what promises to be one of the world’s greatest racing experiences. And there’s no need to bring an umbrella!"

In addition to the five championship races, headed by the £1.3m QIPCO Champion Stakes and Frankel’s date with destiny in the £1.3m Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, and the QIPCO Future Stars Apprentices Handicap which ends the day, there’s plenty to enjoy behind the stands including a Legends autograph signing session with Lester Piggott, Willie Carson, Pat Eddery and others, an action-packed Interactive Racing Zone and the chance to win thousands of pounds worth of prizes from great British brands.

Ascot’s ground remains Good and little or no rain is expected for the rest of the week.

Clerk of the Course, Chris Stickels, said this morning: "It’s a bit overcast and breezy. We had a dry night, we may get some spots of rain later but we’ll generally be dry.

"We put on a bit of water on Monday which changed the ground to Good and we’re Good as we speak.

"If all things go our way, I’d like to be a mixture of Good and Good to Firm by raceday when we’re forecast to have blue skies and almost unbroken sunshine."

Grandstand tickets can still be booked with a 10% advance booking discount at £23.40 – to do so now via Ascot CLICK HERE.