A stellar cast feature amongst 227 entries for QIPCO British Champions Day

Entries for the five Group races that take place on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot have been published today. Since its inauguration 13 years ago, QIPCO British Champions Day has proved itself as a fitting finale for the UK Flat season and today’s entries highlight the strength of the raceday, which takes place on Saturday 19th October.  

Overall, 227 entries have been made for the five races; the largest number since 2018 and include a record entry for the feature QIPCO Champion Stakes, with 56 entries in total. There are strong entries from the UK, Ireland, France and an additional entry from Germany, many of whom will hopefully make the journey to Ascot to compete for over £4 Million in prize money on the day, making QIPCO British Champions Day once again the richest raceday to be staged in the UK this year.  

To celebrate a record number of QIPCO Champion Stakes entries, we’re giving you the ultimate QIPCO British Champions Day offer! Purchase your King Edward VI enclosure tickets using code BCDCHEERS and receive a drinks voucher to redeem on the day. Make the most of this one-time offer and book today!

Offer expires 23:59 on Wednesday 7th August.

A RECORD 56 HORSES ENTERED FOR QIPCO CHAMPION STAKES  

A record 56 horses have been entered in this year’s QIPCO Champion Stakes, the richest mile and a quarter race in Europe. These 56 horses have won 37 Group 1 races between them.  

Goliath, a spectacular winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes, is among the principal entries and the race is potentially the key autumn target for the 4yo, who as a gelding is not eligible for the Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe. The 4yo, who is trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, was also second in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.  

Aidan O’Brien has entered the likes of Auguste Rodin, City of Troy, Luxembourg and Opera Singer. Also entered from Ireland is White Birch, winner of the Tattersalls Gold Cup this year at The Curragh, and Al Riffa, for Joseph O’Brien, who was last seen when second behind City of Troy in the Coral-Eclipse.  

Alongside Goliath, there are a further six French entries. Jerome Reynier, the Marseilles-based trainer, has entered Facteur Cheval and Zarakem, the latter of whom was second behind Auguste Rodin in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.  Third that day was Horizon Dore, who also has an entry alongside Metropolitan, the French 2000 Guineas victor and another strong performer at Royal Ascot earlier in the season. 

Interesting three-year-olds with an entry include Dancing Gemini (Roger Teal), Economics (William Haggas), Ghostwriter (Clive Cox) and Sunway (David Menuisier). Alongside Economics, William Haggas has entered a further four horses, Al Mubhir, Maljoom, My Prospero and Space Legend.  

NOTABLE SPEECH HEADLINES 40 ENTERED FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH II STAKES (SPONSORED BY QIPCO) 

The richest mile race in Europe has deservedly received strong entries for the contest with Notable Speech, winner of two QIPCO British Champions Series races over the season so far, a leading contender. The Godolphin three-year-old has won both the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and the Sussex Stakes this season.  

Last year’s winner Big Rock has also been entered by Maurizio Guarnieri in France, who took over training the horse earlier this year. Facteur Cheval, second in the race last year, has been entered by Jerome Reynier (he has also received an entry in the QIPCO Champion Stakes) and the Mario Baratti-trained Metropolitan is another key French entry. 

Charyn won the Queen Anne Stakes, the first race of this year’s Royal Ascot, for Roger Varian and is a likely runner in France this weekend. He is Varian’s sole entry in the race. 

Fallen Angel, who was a winter favourite for the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, has also received an entry. She hasn’t been seen on a racecourse since her win in the Irish 1000 Guineas, having sustained an injury, but it is positive to see her entered for the race.  

QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS FILLIES & MARES HEADLINED BY OPERA SINGER

The Nassau Stakes heroine Opera Singer is one of 10 entries for Aidan O’Brien in this year’s QIPCO British Champions Filles & Mares Stakes. Emily Upjohn was only sixth in last week’s race at Goodwood, which is part of the QIPCO British Champions Series, but she was most impressive in this end of season finale two years ago.  

Francis-Henri Graffard has entered two in the race and with Melo Melo and Quisiana, the French-based trainer will be hoping for more success at Ascot after Goliath won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes last month, a QIPCO British Champions Series race. That day Bluestocking was second for Ralph Beckett and the filly, who was also second in the QIPCO Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes last year, has received an entry in this race, as well as in the QIPCO Champion Stakes. She is next expected to run in the Yorkshire Oaks (a British Champions Series race).  

Another French horse is Dare To Dream trained by Gavin Hernon. German trainer Andreas Suborics has entered Quantanamera. There is a strong representation from Ireland with Dermot Weld, Joseph O’Brien, Paddy Twomey, Willie Mullins and Jessica Harrington also making entries. 

50 ENTERED IN QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS SPRINT STAKES  

Three previous winners of QIPCO British Champions Series races earlier this season have received entries for the QIPCO Champions Sprint Stakes. Audience, trained by John and Thady Gosden, won the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes in May as well as the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood last week and Inisherin was the winner of the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot for Kevin Ryan. In addition, the July Cup winner, Mill Stream, receives an entry for Jane Chapple-Hyam.  

Art Power, last year’s winner, has also received an entry from Yorkshire-based trainer Tim Easterby.  

Other interesting entries include English Oak for Ed Walker (who may be joined by stablemates Ten Bob Tony and Makarova). Karl Burke has entered Elite Status, Night Raider, Spycatcher and Swingalong.  

Entries from Ireland include Bucanero Fuerte for Adrian Murray, Givemethebeatboys for Jessica Harrington, Moss Tucker for Kevin Condon, Aesop’s Fables for Aidan O’Brien and Yosemite Valley for Donnacha O’Brien.  

France has one entry, Beauvatier, for trainer Yann Barberot.  

KYPRIOS FEATURES AMONGST 37 IN QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS LONG DISTANCE CUP  

This year’s QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup has received a total of 37 entries including Kyprios, who has made such a remarkable return from life-threatening injury and won the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot for a second time in June. The six-year-old, second to Trawlerman in a thrilling tactical event here last October, remains unbeaten this season following last week’s excellent win in the Goodwood Cup. 

Trawlerman, winner of the race in 2023 and second behind Kyprios in the Ascot Gold Cup on his only start this season, has been entered again by John and Thady Gosden, alongside his stable’s 2023 Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami, with Sweet William, Gregory and Arrest rounding off the Gosden quintet. 

Other notable entries include the Alan King-trained 8yo Trueshan, who recorded a remarkable hat-trick of wins in this race between 2020 and 2022, Alsakib for Andrew Balding and Quickthorn for Hughie Morrison.  

Willie Mullins and Henry de Bromhead could both be represented, with Vauban, Belloccio and Absurde set to represent the master of Closutton and Term Of Endearment entered for de Bromhead. The latter won at Goodwood last week.  

The second entry stage for the Group races on QIPCO British Champions Day is on Tuesday 1st October. The Supplementary Stage is on Monday 14th October.  

Entries for The Balmoral Handicap Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) close on 17th September.