Andrew Balding and Aidan O’Brien have had their say on a trainers’ title race that goes down to the wire at Ascot, and the Champions Day fields are now set in stone. Kabral Du Mathan has shortened for the Arkle after a flawless chasing debut, Ka Ying Rising bids for Everest glory again and Gary Moore is calling time on his training career.
Here is the racing news today, rounded up ahead of the weekend.
Balding and O’Brien set the scene for Champions Day
Saturday’s Champions Day at Ascot could settle the British trainers’ championship, with Andrew Balding holding a slender lead over eight-time champion Aidan O’Brien. The Kingsclere handler is under no illusions about the size of the task. “Aidan just sets such an incredibly high standard and he’s going into essentially the most important meeting with a stronger hand than us,” he said, while admitting it is now “in the lap of the gods”.
There is no animosity from Ballydoyle, either. “Obviously, we know Andrew well, and obviously, we’re only always wishing him the very best,” said O’Brien, who also discussed the absence of Scandinavia, the Gstaad and Constitution River decision and his Triple Crown dreams for Darkness Falls. Balding, meanwhile, called Kalpana “probably my favourite” as she bids for a historic hat-trick in the Fillies & Mares Stakes. Read both trainers’ views in full in our Champions Day feature with Balding and O’Brien.
Champions Day declarations round-up
Final declarations are in, and the star attraction is of course the Champion Stakes. Only six go to post, but it is a quality-over-quantity affair, with defending champion Calandagan taking on Ombudsman, Arc runner-up Bay City Roller and Constitution River, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore. Moore also partners Gstaad in an 11-runner Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, where Talk Of New York, French Classic winner Rayif and stablemate Hawk Mountain are among those standing in his way.
Ten stand their ground in the Long Distance Cup, with Caballo De Mar heading a field that also includes St Leger hero Highwayman and the Ballydoyle pair Queenstown and Amelia Earhart. Kalpana faces 12 rivals in the Fillies & Mares, including O’Brien’s Minnie Hauk and Joseph O’Brien’s Johanna Walsh. Almeraq is the one they all have to beat in a 16-runner British Champions Sprint, while 23 head to post for the Balmoral Handicap. The going at the Berkshire track is good, good to firm in places.
Kabral Du Mathan shortens for the Arkle
Kabral Du Mathan could hardly have made a smoother start over fences, making all to win a two-mile beginners’ chase at Perth by 19 lengths at 2/9. Bar an early jump to his left, which put off Jabbar, who unseated his rider, Harry Skelton’s mount was foot perfect and was eased down long before the line. Read our full report from Perth.
The Relkeel Hurdle winner has been cut from 8/1 to 6/1 for the Arkle, and William Hill now make him second favourite for the Cheltenham Festival in March. Dan Skelton is now likely to return to Prestbury Park for the Arkle Trial in November, with the Henry VIII at Sandown and Kempton’s Boxing Day card also under consideration.
Ka Ying Rising bids for Everest repeat
The world’s highest-rated racehorse puts a 22-race winning streak on the line in the A$20 million Everest at Randwick on Saturday. Ka Ying Rising won the six-furlong sprint 12 months ago, and he is a hot favourite again, but he will have to overcome a wide draw in barrier 11 of 12. No horse has won the Everest from that stall in the race’s nine-year history.
Trainer David Hayes is not overly concerned by the draw. “You’ve got a nice, long run to get across, so not chaotic like Sha Tin,” he said. The weather is a bigger worry, though, as more than 60mm of rain has fallen on Sydney this week, and the Hong Kong superstar is unproven on heavy ground. Tempted, who drew barrier one, looks the main danger.
Gary Moore calls time on training career
Gary Moore is to retire after 35 years with a licence, handing the reins to his sons Josh and Jamie. The 70-year-old, who has shared a joint licence with Josh since 2024, broke the news to his daughter Hayley on Sky Sports Racing. The brothers’ first runners are set for Fontwell and Newmarket next Wednesday.
Moore said he would rather be at home than travelling to the races most days, and that it was time to give the boys a chance. His big-race haul spans both codes, most famously with Sire De Grugy, who won the 2014 Queen Mother Champion Chase under Jamie. The timing is fitting, too, as his son Ryan will be inducted into the British Racing Hall Of Fame at Ascot on Saturday.
Racing today
Redcar — first race: 13:20 · last race: 17:23
Uttoxeter — first race: 13:27 · last race: 16:53
Haydock — first race: 13:42 · last race: 17:37
Fakenham — first race: 13:45 · last race: 16:37 · meeting abandoned
Newcastle — first race: 16:08 · last race: 20:15
Dundalk — first race: 17:00 · last race: 20:30
[View today’s racecards] · [Latest non-runners] · [Today’s results]