British Champions Day at Ascot: Champion Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and extra – stay
Key occasions
Kalpana was final after a furlong and is now three from the again after half a mile, Aidan O’Brien’s runners are 1 and a couple of …
Kalapana was slowly away from stall one, she’s not going to be completely positioned …
Off and operating within the FIllies and Mares Stakes!
The punters are enjoying up their winnings from Almeraq, and Kalpana is now an even-money favorite with Minnie Hauk regular at round 9-2. Lilt has additionally attracted a bit of cash to round 17-2 to present William Haggas a quickfire double.
Another line from earlier on. Here’s PJ McDonald on his needle-threading profitable journey on Mount Atlas.
I’m very pleased to be a small a part of an enormous workforce. I’m additionally very pleased to have a horse like him, as a result of how courageous was he within the remaining furlong. The manner the race panned out for me, it opened up simply on the proper time and he was by means of the hole and on the road earlier than he actually knew what was happening. It was tight and he answered for me. When I sat into him, he caught his head in there and moved by means of.
Andrew Balding’s internet optimistic from the Long Distance Cup was £169k, as Aidan O’Brien saddled each the second and fifth residence.
It’s one other £283,500 first prize within the subsequent, with £107,500 for the runner-up, so with Kalpana and Minnie Hauk anticipated to set off on the head of the betting, this might but be seen because the race that made all of the distinction when the mud on the trainers’ title race lastly settles.
Here’s the newest costs for the Fillies & Mares Stakes, courtesy of Oddschecker:
Kalpana 6/5
Minnie Hauk 5/1
Lilt 15/2
Sparan Nua 17/2
Danielle 18/1
Believed 18/1
See the Fire 28/1
28/1 BAR
2.40 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, Group One, 1m 4f
The punters will probably be on higher phrases with themselves after Almeraq’s success within the final and now there’s one other strong favorite to get caught into within the form of Andrew Balding’s Kalpana, who bides to finish her profession on a excessive with a 3rd straight success on this race.
Her process has been eased considerably following the information that Johanna Walsh, the Irish Oaks winner earlier within the season, has been scratched after failing to eat up this morning.
In her absence, Aidan O’Brien’s Minnie Hauk is her primary rival within the betting, though final 12 months’s Arc runner-up might want to enhance considerably on her type to date this 12 months if Kalapana, who was a good manner forward of her on this season’s Arc 13 days in the past, is anyplace near her finest.
Lilt, a lightly-raced three-year-old from the William Haggas steady, additionally has an opportunity on her type behind Thundering On, the Oaks winner, on the Curragh final outing, whereas Sparan Nua, a detailed second behind Kalapana within the Yorkshire Oaks in August, is one other runner at a double-figure value that deserves consideration.
All in all, although, it’s very arduous to see previous Kalpana if she runs anyplace near her finest.
Impressive by Almeraq, who may need most popular a barely softer floor however nonetheless ran down Paborus with one thing to spare after Edward Bethell’s runner acquired a soar on his rivals in opposition to the far rail.
That may properly be Almeraq’s remaining begin earlier than he heads off to a brand new profession as a stallion. A memorable conclusion to his racing profession, in that case.
2.05 ASCOT RESULT: ALMERAQ ARRIVES LATE FOR FAVOURITE BACKERS
1. ALMERAQ 11-10 fav, 2. Paborus 18-1, 3. Division 17-2, 4. Coppull 11-1. 16 ran.
Power Blue leads far aspect with SOul Love, Coppull there too and so they’re heading to the far aspect ..
Paborus leads far rail, he leads a furlong out however Almeraq is closing, he’s operating him down and the favorite goes to get there!
Off and operating within the Champions Sprint!
They’re on the submit for the Champions Sprint. Almeraq is a rock-solid favorite at 11-10, however may there be one other boilover?
Andrew Balding has simply change into the primary coach in British Flat racing historical past to go £9m in prize cash in a single season. And but, he’s nonetheless maybe a marginal outsider to win the title, as Aidan O’Brien’s finest chances are high but to return.
Here’s the newest odds on the Sprint Stakes through Oddschecker:
Almeraq 7/5
Division 8/1
Couppull 11/1
Great Wish 12/1
Samangan 14/1
Paborus 14/1
Kind of Blue 16/1
16/1 BAR
2.05 British Champions Sprint Stakes, Group One, 6f
Welcome to the Twilight Zone, a six-furlong dash down the straight course the place something can occur and steadily does. Last 12 months’s winner was a 200-1 probability, Powerful Glory, whereas Art Power went in at 40-1 two years earlier than that, and there have been winners too at 33-1 and 28-1 since 2018.
There is a good set-up for an additional shock at this time, as the nice and cozy favorite, Almeraq, has one of the best type together with two Group One wins, within the Sprint Cup at Haydock and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Stakes over course and distance in June, however appears at his finest with some lower within the floor. He additionally tends to be held up in his races, which isn’t a really perfect run-style on this six-furlong strip, and whereas he acquired away with it in June, at this time’s race might not unfold in fairly the identical manner.
There are loads of each-way options to the 6-5 favorite, together with the three-year-old Division, fourth residence within the Commonwealth Cup right here in June.
Samangan can also be a stay runner for Francis-Henri Graffard’s burgeoning operation in Chantilly, having gained the Group One Prix Mauriuce du Gheest at Deauville in August.
And I’ll be having a number of quid each-way on Clive Cox’s Coppull, who ended up on the flawed aspect within the Commonwealth Cup in June (see above), didn’t just like the tender floor at Haydock final time and has in any other case carried out with credit score in a sequence of sturdy occasions, together with a fourth place within the July Cup three months in the past.
Andrew Balding had a fast chat with ITV Racing’s Matt Chapman on the best way again to the winner’s enclosure.
We have been taking an opportunity on two miles, however he loves Ascot and PJ gave him a superb journey. It was nice to do it in these colors too.
What a end result for the Andrew Balding steady, a Group One winner that few noticed coming and £283,500 added to the prize-money haul.
PJ McDonald labored wonders to discover a manner by means of on Mount Atlas in opposition to the rail, and ran down O’Brien’s Queenstown, who acquired a top-notch front-running journey from Ryan Moore, properly inside the ultimate furlong.
Great to see the well-known colors of the late owner-breeder Paul Mellon aboard the winner too. They are actually utilized by the Kingsclere Racing Club, and have been maybe most famously carried to victory by the nice Mill Reef within the Derby, King George and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 1971 – the 12 months that Balding’s father, Ian, gained the trainers’ title for the primary and solely time.
1.30 ASCOT; ATLAS SHOULDERS THE BURDEN FOR BALDING
1. MOUNT ATLAS 33-1, 2. Queenstown 14-1, 3. Highwayman 7-4 fav. 10 ran.
Halfway now, no main modifications within the operating order …
Queenstown now strikes into the lead and can lead into the straight …
Gregory strikes by means of into second, Amelia Earhart coming too, and right here’s Mount Atlas for Andrew Balding …
Queenstown in entrance however right here comes Mount Atlas! Andrew Balding strikes within the Long Distance Cup with a 33-1 outsider!
Now Quickthorn and Queenstown go right into a six-length lead, Gregory leads the pursuit with Highwayman …
Off and operating within the Long Distance Cup …
It’s a degree break, and Queenstown leads early from Daiquiri Bay, Gregory shut up and now Quickthorn comes by means of to guide …
Going to submit for the Long Distance Cup, Highwayman stays favorite at round 9-4 whereas Gregory is somewhat simpler to again at round 100-30.
Eve Johnson Houghton was in tremendous type after her win with Night In Vegas within the opener.
I assumed he may get a mile [at three] when he gained over seven furlongs, however who cares? We’re simply going to have enjoyable subsequent 12 months, realizing what we’ve executed this 12 months.
Fifteen minutes to the off within the Long Distance Cup, the primary of at this time’s Group One races, and Oddschecker have been in contact with the newest costs:
Highwayman 9/4
Gregory 7/2
Caballo de Mar 11/2
Daiquiri Bay 10/1
Queenstown 11/1
Opportunity 12/1
Amiloc 20/1
20/1 BAR
Challenges don’t come any better-timed than Charles Bishop’s late thrust on Night In Vegas.
His whole haul of prize cash for the Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds syndicate is now greater than £700k, an astonishing return for a juvenile that value simply 60,000gns (£63k) at Tattersalls’ Book 3 sale final 12 months.
1.30 British Champions Long Distance Cup, Group One, 1m 7f 209yd
The first of the cardboard’s Group One races misplaced the largest identify within the subject when Scandinavia, the Gold Cup winner on the Royal assembly right here in June, was dominated out by Aidan O’Brien earlier within the week, however in his absence it guarantees to be a way more aggressive occasion for the punters to unpick.
Highwayman, who offered Saffie Osborne with a second of Classic historical past when he took the St Leger at Doncaster final month, is the primary consultant of the three-year-old technology, together with his common jockey, Dylan Browne McMonagle, again within the saddle after recovering from harm.
He’s up in opposition to Gregory, the winner of the Queen’s Vase over this monitor and journey on the Royal assembly in 2024, who’s three years older however has few miles on the clock having had an injury-affected profession.
Caballo De Mar, in the meantime, is within the type of his life, and arrives at Ascot o the again of victories in each the Group Two Doncaster Cup and the Group One Prix du Cadran at Longchamp two weeks in the past, when he beat Scandinavia into second place.
Daiquiri Bay, the Ebor Handicap winner in August, provides additional spice to the combination – final 12 months’s Ebor winner, in any case, went on to take the Breeders’ Cup Turf in California a few months later. Personally, although, I really feel Highwayman is the runner with the best scope for enchancment, not least as at this time’s race will probably be his first begin at two miles.
A superb end to the opener on Champions Day as Night In Vegas will get up within the remaining stride to disclaim Arapaho Gold on the nod, with Satellite Of Love shut behind in third.
Eve Johnson Houghton’s juvenile is now one of many greater money-earners in British two-year-old racing historical past, however has but to win a Group race at any degree.
12.55 ASCOT RESULT: VEGAS LANDS ANOTHER JACKPOT
1. NIGHT IN VEGAS 5-2, 2. Arapaho Gold 9-4 fav, 3. Satellite Of Love 4-1. 11 ran.
Off and operating within the 12.55 Ascot !
The runners that would determine the trainers’ title
Aidan O’Brien has eight runners on at this time’s card, beginning with Confucius within the opener and adopted up by:
Queenstown (1.30), Amelia Earhart (1.30), Minnie Hauk (2.40), Sugar Island (2.40), Gstaad (3.20), Hawk Mountain (3.20) and eventually Constitution River within the Champion Stakes at 4.00.
Andrew Balding has 5:
Mount Atlas (1.30), Marvelman (2.05), See The Fire (2.40), Kalpana (2.40) and Mister Winston (4.35).
12.55 Ascot, newest betting
Here are the newest costs on the opening juvenile occasion at Ascot, courtesy of Oddschecker.
Arapaho Gold- 5/2
Night in Vegas- 7/2
Satellite of Love- 4/1
Inner City Blues- 13/2
Speed of Sound- 14/1
Confucius- 22/1
Oakford- 25/1
BAR- 25/1
12.55 British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes, 6f
They will probably be within the parade ring imminently forward of the latest addition to the Champions Day schedule remains to be too younger to have earned Pattern-race standing, however final 12 months’s winner, Mission Central, adopted up within the Group One King Charles III Stakes on the Royal assembly right here in the summertime so it’s off to a really sturdy begin.
The favorite for the newest renewal is Arapaho Gold, who was one of the best horse on the weights when third within the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury final time.
He is top-rated by Timeform too, however the present type of his coach, Michael Dods, needs to be a priority as he has not saddled a single winner from 30 runners over the previous two weeks.
Night In Vegas has been making hay in a sequence of races linked to yearling gross sales and public sale costs, amassing practically £600k within the course of, and has a really respectable probability of including one other £128k right here, and had Satellite Of Love again within the second when the pair have been the 1-2 within the gross sales race at Doncaster’s St Leger assembly. On a strict studying of the shape, although, Satellite Of Love must be forward of Night In Vegas at this time – he’s 7lb higher off for a half-length beating.
Aidan O’Brien’s solely runner, Confucius, completed final on his most up-to-date outing and is unfancied within the betting, however Inner City Blues, within the first colors of the Godolphin operation, is certainly price contemplating – he’s taking a major drop at school after ending fifth within the Group One Middle Park Stakes final time.
But I’m going to take an each-way punt on the obvious Godolphin second-string, Victory Gold. Runners from Saeed bin Suroor’s steady are likely to go underneath the radar today, however he has maintained a powerful strike-rate regardless of enjoying second-fiddle to Charlie Appleby for a lot of the final decade. And his runners are undoubtedly price a better look when he books Oisin Murphy to journey – they’ve teamed as much as file a 30pc strike-rate and a major level-stakes revenue during the last six seasons.
Preamble
Welcome to Ascot on Champions Day 2026, forward of a seven-race card that stands at the least a good diploma of comparability with the end-of-season jamborees in Paris two weeks in the past, and in Keeneland later this month.
For that, we owe due to the lengthy, dry summer season that has prolonged into mid-October. That means in flip that this 12 months’s card will probably be one of many few with out the phrase “tender” someplace within the going description (though it’s also, because the Racing Post’s columnist Richard Forristal identified earlier this week, “a pity that it required the global community to burn for the occasion to work”).
But right here we’re, with seven races together with 5 Group Ones and an unusually live race for the Flat trainers’ championship between Andrew Balding and Aidan O’Brien which may successfully be determined at this time.
Balding’s primary hope is Kalpana, the favorite, within the Fillies & Mares Stakes at 2.40, whereas O’Brien has a number of respectable possibilities scattered by means of the cardboard, the obvious being Gstaad within the £1.1m Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at 3.20 and Constitution River within the function occasion, the £1.3m Champion Stakes, at 4.00.
Shock winners have been the order of the day final 12 months, when the Sprint was gained by a 200-1 shot and the QEII by a 100-1 probability, so the punters might properly method the proceedings with a level of trepidation.
My picks for the seven races are here – beneath an interview with the immensely spectacular new 20-year-old champion jockey, Billy Loughnane – and we’re underway at 12.55 with the Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes.
