We look ahead to QIPCO British Champions Day with all the details you need including leading contenders for each race.
QIPCO British Champions Day
- Where: Ascot, Berkshire
- When: Saturday October 17 (First race 1.20, Last race 4.15)
- Going: Soft (to be confirmed)
- TV details: Live on ITV and Sky Sports Racing
- Betting: Click here for Sky Bet's odds and offers
1.20 - QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 2)
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Leading contenders: After something of a non-event in the Arc de Triomphe, seventh home STRADIVARIUS has been given the option to round off his campaign with a win back up in trip. With form figures of 312 in this event over the last three years, he clearly has to be taken very seriously once more but the prospect of another slog in the mud won't be all that welcome. SEARCH FOR A SONG claimed back-to-back wins in the Irish Leger for Dermot Weld and she, too, would prefer a drying surface so perhaps Curragh runner-up FUJAIRA PRINCE will be the new kid on the block here. He won the Ebor from a lofty mark of 108 and probably found the ground a bit too lively last time.
Dark horse: Aidan O'Brien likes to test the waters here with the following season's Gold Cup in mind and DAWN PATROL looks exactly the sort of colt who could take a marked step forward as he learns the ropes as a stayer. He took the step up to two miles in his stride at the Curragh last month and is open to loads more improvement after just seven career starts.
1.55 - QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1)
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Leading contenders: Two horses rated 120 here should make for a very watchable clash and while OXTED hasn't been seen since opening his account at the highest level in the July Cup, he is unbeaten from two starts as a four-year-old and still retains a good deal of potential. DREAM OF DREAMS is the other headline-grabber and is himself a fraction unfortunate not to be 3-3 in 2020 having just missed out by a head (for the second year running) in the Diamond Jubilee at the Royal meeting. He handled cut in the ground, looks as good as ever this term but worth noting he's been to Ascot five times and yet to leave with a victory (three seconds in total). Star mare ONE MASTER is a bit below on ratings (112) but gets the sex allowance and she appears to be heading here having been taken out of the QEII. She landed her third straight Prix de la Foret last month and is one of the best seven furlong operators around.
Dark horse: CAPE BYRON missed his prep run in the Bengough Stakes after the meeting was abandoned earlier in the month so will have to defy a 264-day layoff if lining up this weekend. He was also well held in this race when last sighted but had looked on a real upward curve earlier in 2019 and one suspects he isn't done with yet at the highest level.
2.30 - QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1)
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Leading contenders: Connections of MAGICAL may have secretly taken a sigh of relief hearing of Enable's retirement, even more so considering it had been floated she may have aimed for one last hurrah in this event. Not to be and it does look there for the taking again for Aidan O'Brien's super mare having won it in 2018 before landing the Champion Stakes here last season. She could be heading for the big one again which might leave the door open for WONDERFUL TONIGHT or DAME MALLIOT. The latter loves a deep racing surface and will be looking to give trainer Ed Vaughan the perfect send-of.
Dark horse: Look out for Joseph O'Brien's THUNDERING NIGHTS, who has a significant amount of progress to make based on official ratings but looks a potential improver stepping up to a mile and a half for the first time. She's a daughter of Night Of Thunder with a lot of stamina on the dam's side of her pedigree and didn't get the race run to suit when third to Cayenne Pepper over 10 furlongs at the Curragh over Irish Champions Weekend.
3.05 - QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1)
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Leading contenders: It's all about PALACE PIER if the betting is to be believed and not hard to see why considering how his form has worked out this season. The freshness angle clearly isn't considered an issue and while his future may lie over 10 furlongs by the time next summer comes into view, it would be a surprise if this stiff mile on easy ground doesn't prove right up his street. It was good to see 2000 Guineas winner KAMEKO back in the groove last time while BENBATL is a proven international performer who is more than capable of posting a big number on his better days.
Dark horse: The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained CENTURY DREAM found the ground a little too lively at Leopardstown but he'd previously looked a much improved performer when slamming Sir Busker at Goodwood where the testing conditions really suited his rounded action. If this turns into a genuine slog then the son of Cape Cross will be right at home and could easily run a big race at rewarding odds.
3.40 - QIPCO Champion Stakes (Group 1)
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Leading contenders: A really deep-looking edition of the Champion Stakes based on the initial entry with last year's winner MAGICAL potentially joined by ADDEYBB, LORD NORTH, JAPAN and the much-improved EXTRA ELUSIVE. Only two three-year-olds have won in the past decade but there are some dangerous youngsters lurking here, principally Derby winner SERPENTINE, his stablemate MOGUL and the John Gosden-trained MISHRIFF. The latter looks the horse to beat after slamming his rivals twice in France after winning at Newmarket on his comeback in June. The way he dispatched the Prix du Jockey Club field was particularly impressive and he looks the next cab off the rank in terms of Clarehaven-based, middle-distance superstars.
Dark horse: It hasn't been much of a race for the 'little man' over the years but what a story if William Muir were able to land the Champion Stakes with PYLEDRIVER. He didn't quite stay the trip in the St Leger but still looked a horse learning on the job and he's a huge talent with a turn of foot to match. He also handles some cut in the ground so as far as lively outsiders go, he's one most people would love to see in the shake-up.
4.15 - QIPCO Balmoral Handicap
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Leading contenders: A wildly-competitive handicap over the straight mile but no shock to see RAAEQ dominating the early market as the general 5/1 favourite. The three-year-old son of Kingman has a profile to die for when it comes to this kind of event, building on his belated comeback second at Sandown to win well from marks of 91 and 97, the latter of which came over seven furlongs at this track. He's in deeper waters now but a 6lb penalty still leaves him 5lb ahead of the handicapper having been put up 11lb and there are clearly hopes within the Brian Meehan camp that he's a Group horse in the making. David O'Meara has won two of the past three renewals and has a strong hand again with five entered up including ORBAAN and 2019 scorer ESCOBAR.
Dark horse: Andrew Balding is finishing the season with a real flourish and his three-year-old SYMBOLIZE is set to make his handicap debut here. He was beaten just a length when fourth in last year's Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot and has been set some stiff tasks so far this term. He's yet to race over a mile but could be interesting if covered up for a late burst and the prospect of soft ground won't be a problem.
