ITV Racing heads to Ascot on Saturday 17 October for British Champions Day, with seven live races. Five Group 1s headline the card, led by the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the £737,230 Champion Stakes, where Calandagan and Ombudsman meet again after finishing first and second last year.
Three of last year’s winners are back to defend their titles, and Kalpana goes for a third straight Fillies & Mares Stakes. We’ve gone back through the last ten runnings of each ITV race to pull out the trends worth knowing before you bet. The going is Good.
Key Race Schedule For Saturday 17th October
| Time | Course | Race | Grade | Distance | Runners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12.55pm | Ascot | Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes | Class 2 | 6f | 11 |
| 1.30pm | Ascot | British Champions Long Distance Cup | Group 1 | 1m7f209y | 10 |
| 2.05pm | Ascot | British Champions Sprint Stakes | Group 1 | 6f | 16 |
| 2.40pm | Ascot | British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes | Group 1 | 1m3f211y | 13 |
| 3.20pm | Ascot | Queen Elizabeth II Stakes | Group 1 | 1m | 11 |
| 4.00pm | Ascot | Champion Stakes | Group 1 | 1m1f212y | 6 |
| 4.35pm | Ascot | Balmoral Handicap | Heritage Handicap | 1m | 23 |
12.55pm Ascot – Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes (Class 2)
This six-furlong conditions race for two-year-olds was added to Champions Day in 2025 and is worth £128,850 to the winner. There are no ten-year trends yet, but the first running has already produced a top-class sprinter.
- One running, one star: Aidan O’Brien won the inaugural running with Mission Central at 5/1, and he went on to land the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. O’Brien runs Confucius this year, with Ryan Moore on board.
- Favourite beaten: Charlie Appleby’s Words Of Truth was sent off the 11/10 favourite last year and finished 3rd. Appleby runs Inner City Blues for William Buick.
- Top-rated: Arapaho Gold is the highest-rated runner on 110 and won his first four starts before finishing 3rd last time.
- Lone filly: Speed Of Sound is the only filly in the field and receives 5lb from the colts.
12:55 Ascot
Qatar Racing British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes (GBB Race)
- Going Good
- Distance 0m 6f 0y
- Class Class 2
- Race Type Flat Turf
- Surface Turf
- Runners 11
- 1st £128,850
- 2nd £60,425
- 3rd £30,225
- 4th £15,100
- 5th £7,550
- 6th £3,775
Runners: 11 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly sunny
Adaay Of Scarlett 28 days 
Arapaho Gold 28 days 
Confucius 21 days 
Crusherman 13 days 
Inner City Blues 21 days 
Night In Vegas 14 days 
Oakford 29 days 
Satellite Of Love 14 days 
Theheatison 8 days 
Victory Gold 49 days 
Speed Of Sound 22 days Terms and conditions
*Odds displayed on this page are sourced directly from online bookmakers. Please check all details before placing your bet(s). 18+ only.
Betting Forecast
25/1 Adaay Of Scarlett, 3/1 Arapaho Gold, 12/1 Confucius, 50/1 Crusherman, 7/4 Inner City Blues, 6/1 Night In Vegas, 20/1 Oakford, 6/1 Satellite Of Love, 100/1 Theheatison, 16/1 Victory Gold, 12/1 Speed Of Sound
Verdict
The second running of this well-endowed conditions race and it’s a Group-class renewal again. Night In Vegas (second choice) needs little introduction after hitting the jackpot on his last three outings, while Inner City Blues can step forward from his fifth in the Middle Park and Satellite Of Love comes here following his success in a valuable event at Redcar. They can all go well but the vote goes to Gimcrack winner ARAPAHO GOLD, who lost his unbeaten record last time but even that form makes him a leading contender. Speed Of Sound and Oakford should not be dismissed at likely bigger prices.[Richard Russell]
1.30pm Ascot – British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 1)
The Long Distance Cup is run over just short of two miles and was upgraded to Group 1 in 2025. It has been one of the most predictable races on Champions Day, and the big staying yards have dominated.
- Favourites: 6 of the last 10 favourites have won, including the last two.
- Short prices: 7 of the last 10 winners started 5/1 or shorter. The biggest-priced winners were both 11/1.
- Big three yards: Aidan O’Brien, the Gosden stable and Alan King have each won it 3 times in the last 10 years. O’Brien runs Queenstown and Amelia Earhart, the Gosdens run Gregory and King runs Daiquiri Bay.
- Experience counts: no three-year-old has won in the last 10 years. Every winner was aged four to seven, which counts against Highwayman and Amelia Earhart.
- No female winners: no filly or mare has won any of the 15 runnings since Champions Day began in 2011. Amelia Earhart is the only female runner this year.
13:30 Ascot
Qatar Racing British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 1)
- Going Good
- Distance 1m 7f 209y
- Class Class 1
- Race Type Flat Turf
- Surface Turf
- Runners 10
- 1st £283,550
- 2nd £107,500
- 3rd £53,800
- 4th £26,800
- 5th £13,450
- 6th £6,750
Runners: 10 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly sunny
Amiloc 36 days 
Caballo De Mar 14 days 
Daiquiri Bay 56 days 
Gregory 23 days 
Mount Atlas 57 days 
Opportunity 56 days 
Queenstown 14 days 
Quickthorn 36 days 
Highwayman 35 days 
Amelia Earhart 14 days Terms and conditions
*Odds displayed on this page are sourced directly from online bookmakers. Please check all details before placing your bet(s). 18+ only.
Betting Forecast
12/1 Amiloc, 5/2 Caballo De Mar, 9/1 Daiquiri Bay, 4/1 Gregory, 25/1 Mount Atlas, 11/1 Opportunity, 13/2 Queenstown, 100/1 Quickthorn, 7/2 Highwayman, 20/1 Amelia Earhart
Non-runners
Carmers, Lazy Griff
Verdict
Caballo De Mar tailed off in the Gold Cup here in June but a change of equipment has given his career a major new impetus and at Longchamp two weeks ago he beat Scandinavia, who had previously been unmatched in the 2026 staying division. Caballo De Mar should put up a hard fight here as well but he may well have to stand and deliver something very special if St Leger winner HIGHWAYMAN (nap) finds the improvement at 2m which he’s been promising by staying on so strongly at 1m6f. Gregory could be a threat to them both judged on the manner of his Newmarket Listed win, while Opportunity might have the edge this time over Daiquiri Bay in a rematch between the Ebor principals.[Richard Austen]
2.05pm Ascot – British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1)
The Champions Sprint is a six-furlong Group 1 on the straight course and has been the punters’ graveyard of Champions Day. Sixteen go to post this year, including the 2024 winner.
- Favourites struggle: just 1 of the last 10 favourites has won (Kinross, 2022).
- Shocks happen: 7 of the last 10 winners started 10/1 or bigger, including Sands Of Mali (28/1), Donjuan Triumphant (33/1), Art Power (40/1) and last year’s 200/1 winner Powerful Glory.
- Defending 2024 winner: Kind Of Blue won this two years ago for James Fanshawe, who has won it twice in the last 10 years. Billy Loughnane rides. No horse has won the race twice in that time.
- Age: three-year-olds won 4 of the last 10 runnings and horses aged five or older won 5. Six three-year-olds run this year, including Coppull, Division and Samangan.
- Draw: high stalls (14 to 17) have won three of the last four runnings, but low stalls won five of the six before that, so there is no reliable bias.
14:05 Ascot
Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1)
- Going Good
- Distance 0m 6f 0y
- Class Class 1
- Race Type Flat Turf
- Surface Turf
- Runners 16
- 1st £283,550
- 2nd £107,500
- 3rd £53,800
- 4th £26,800
- 5th £13,450
- 6th £6,750
Runners: 16 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly sunny
Almeraq 42 days 
Binhareer 7 days 
Great Wish 48 days 
Jamess Delight 42 days 
Jasour 14 days Kind Of Blue 17 days 
Marvelman 13 days 
Mitbaahy 17 days 
Paborus 42 days 
Prince Of India 14 days 
Coppull 42 days Division 14 days 
Poatan 42 days 
Power Blue 20 days 
Samangan 13 days 
Soul Love 20 days Terms and conditions
*Odds displayed on this page are sourced directly from online bookmakers. Please check all details before placing your bet(s). 18+ only.
Betting Forecast
1/1 Almeraq, 28/1 Binhareer, 12/1 Great Wish, 100/1 Jamess Delight, 100/1 Jasour, 9/1 Kind Of Blue, 33/1 Marvelman, 40/1 Mitbaahy, 11/1 Paborus, 14/1 Prince Of India, 8/1 Coppull, 9/1 Division, 40/1 Poatan, 50/1 Power Blue, 10/1 Samangan, 20/1 Soul Love
Non-runners
Royal Bay Cen
Verdict
William Haggas holds a strong hand and his top-class colt ALMERAQ is the one to beat after a dazzling display in the Sprint Cup at Haydock. Conditions are likely to be less testing today but he still got the job done in the Jubilee here on good to firm ground in the summer, and he can land a third Group 1 of the campaign. Stablemate Division is unfortunate to be winless this season and can pose the most serious threat, with the reliable Prince Of India looking to hold solid each-way claims. Great Wish, Paborus, Coppull and Soul Love could all be involved as well.[Richard O’Brien]
2.40pm Ascot – British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1)
The Fillies & Mares Stakes is a mile-and-a-half Group 1 and has gone to the market leaders far more often than not. All eyes are on Kalpana, who bids for a third successive win.
- Hat-trick bid: Kalpana won in 2024 and 2025 for Andrew Balding and is the top-rated runner on 124. Colin Keane, who rode her last year, is on board again.
- Favourites: 5 of the last 10 favourites have won, including four of the last six.
- Short prices: 8 of the last 10 winners started 5/1 or shorter.
- Age warning: three-year-olds have won 7 of the last 10 and no five-year-old has won in that time. Kalpana, Danielle and See The Fire are all five.
- Trainers: the Gosden stable has won it 3 times in the last 10 years and runs Danielle and Symbol Of Majesty. Aidan O’Brien (2 wins) runs Minnie Hauk and Sugar Island.
14:40 Ascot
Qatar Racing British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1)
- Going Good
- Distance 1m 3f 211y
- Class Class 1
- Race Type Flat Turf
- Surface Turf
- Runners 13
- 1st £283,550
- 2nd £107,500
- 3rd £53,800
- 4th £26,800
- 5th £13,450
- 6th £6,750
Runners: 13 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly sunny
Coedana 22 days 
Danielle 37 days 
Kalpana 13 days 
Minnie Hauk 13 days 
See The Fire 35 days 
Tajlina 132 days 
Believed 64 days 
Inis Mor 22 days 
Johanna Walsh 58 days 
Lilt 34 days 
Sparan Nua 41 days 
Sugar Island 14 days 
Symbol Of Majesty 34 days Terms and conditions
*Odds displayed on this page are sourced directly from online bookmakers. Please check all details before placing your bet(s). 18+ only.
Betting Forecast
25/1 Coedana, 12/1 Danielle, 6/4 Kalpana, 8/1 Minnie Hauk, 14/1 See The Fire, 20/1 Tajlina, 18/1 Believed, 25/1 Inis Mor, 7/1 Johanna Walsh, 7/1 Lilt, 8/1 Sparan Nua, 100/1 Sugar Island, 50/1 Symbol Of Majesty
Non-runners
Bosphorus Rose, Club Class, Estrange, Lava Stream, Moody
Verdict
The sight of KALPANA galloping on clear of the rest up the straight at Ascot has become a sweet and familiar one, including in the last two renewals of this race. A supporting role in the Arc did not prevent her from dominating this in 2025, so she again looks very much the one to beat when asked the same question this time round, even if stall 1 could provide a tactical complication. With Minnie Hauk’s star having dimmed, it appears that Irish Oaks winner Johanna Walsh would provide the chief threat if the ground has not gone softer than good. Among those with serious work to do on the ratings, Believed and Lilt offer the best hopes of marked improvement.[Richard Austen]
3.20pm Ascot – Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1)
The QEII is Europe’s end-of-season championship mile, run on Ascot’s round course. Eleven run this year, and six of them are three-year-olds.
- Three-year-olds rule: 6 of the last 10 winners were three-year-olds. Gstaad, Rayif, Talk Of New York and Zavateri lead the Classic generation.
- Favourites: only 3 of the last 10 favourites have won, and odds-on Palace Pier and Inspiral were both beaten.
- Shocks happen: 3 of the last 10 winners started 10/1 or bigger, including Bayside Boy (33/1) and last year’s 100/1 winner Cicero’s Gift.
- French raider: Francis-Henri Graffard won it with The Revenant in 2020 and saddles Rayif for Christophe Soumillon.
- Top-rated: Gstaad is the highest-rated runner on 125 for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. O’Brien last won it with Minding in 2016.
15:20 Ascot
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored By Qatar Racing) (Group 1)
- Going Good
- Distance 1m 0f 0y
- Class Class 1
- Race Type Flat Turf
- Surface Turf
- Runners 11
- 1st £623,810
- 2nd £236,500
- 3rd £118,360
- 4th £58,960
- 5th £29,590
- 6th £14,850
Runners: 11 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly sunny
Dancing Gemini 42 days 
Docklands 80 days 
More Thunder 35 days 
Ten Bob Tony 41 days 
Zeus Olympios 62 days Gstaad 41 days Hawk Mountain 35 days Needle Match 42 days Rayif 62 days Talk Of New York 22 days 
Zavateri 49 days Terms and conditions
*Odds displayed on this page are sourced directly from online bookmakers. Please check all details before placing your bet(s). 18+ only.
Betting Forecast
66/1 Dancing Gemini, 25/1 Docklands, 10/1 More Thunder, 7/1 Ten Bob Tony, 9/1 Zeus Olympios, 9/2 Gstaad, 40/1 Hawk Mountain, 66/1 Needle Match, 7/2 Rayif, 5/2 Talk Of New York, 13/2 Zavateri
Non-runners
Rogue Diplomat, Bow Echo, Cercene
Verdict
Rematches abound, as most of the runners have met previously. Talk Of New York has pulled hard at times and Rayif needs to show he can deliver outside France but they are otherwise improving colts who command plenty of respect, while Gstaad (second choice) has been a rock-solid performer in the main and would be a multiple Group 1 winner but for unbeaten Bow Echo being one of his contemporaries. A strong hand for the 3yos is completed by ZAVATERI who is peaking at the right time, remains particularly unexposed over 1m and may provide Eve Johnson Houghton with a first success in a race that her father Fulke landed three times. Back at the scene of his Queen Anne win, Ten Bob Tony could well prove best of the older runners.[Steve Boow]
4.00pm Ascot – Champion Stakes (Group 1)
The Champion Stakes over a mile and a quarter is the richest race of the British season, worth £737,230 to the winner. Only six run, but it is a rematch of last year’s first two, Calandagan and Ombudsman.
- The rematch: Calandagan beat the 13/8 favourite Ombudsman in last year’s race at 15/8. Ombudsman is the top-rated runner on 132, with Calandagan on 127.
- Favourites: 5 of the last 10 favourites have won, but only King of Steel (2023) has obliged since 2020.
- French success: French-trained horses have won 3 of the last 10 (Almanzor, Sealiway and Calandagan).
- Age: three- and four-year-olds have won 8 of the last 10. Constitution River is the only three-year-old, and Almaqam, Calandagan and Ombudsman are all five.
- Soft-ground race: six of the last 10 runnings were on Soft. This year it is Good, as it was for Calandagan last year.
16:00 Ascot
Qatar Racing Champion Stakes (Group 1)
- Going Good
- Distance 1m 1f 212y
- Class Class 1
- Race Type Flat Turf
- Surface Turf
- Runners 6
- 1st £737,230
- 2nd £279,500
- 3rd £139,880
- 4th £69,680
- 5th £34,970
- 6th £17,550
Runners: 6 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly sunny
Almaqam 35 days Bay City Roller 13 days 
Calandagan 84 days Devils Advocate 59 days Ombudsman 59 days 
Constitution River 35 days Terms and conditions
*Odds displayed on this page are sourced directly from online bookmakers. Please check all details before placing your bet(s). 18+ only.
Betting Forecast
7/1 Almaqam, 4/1 Bay City Roller, 2/1 Calandagan, 100/1 Devils Advocate, 9/4 Ombudsman, 11/2 Constitution River
Non-runners
Best Secret
Verdict
Bay City Roller was a mighty second in the Arc, while Almaqam had a gallant near-miss in the International and impressive Eclipse winner Constitution River is better than he’s shown on his two starts since. However, it’s likely that they’ll all be playing for third place if Calandagan and OMBUDSMAN show up at the top of their games. We are in for an enormous treat if they do, with the brilliance of Ombudsman’s two wins in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes over C&D suggesting he wasn’t quite at his peak when runner-up to Calandagan in this race 12 months ago. He is taken to gain his revenge.[Ben Hutton]
4.35pm Ascot – Balmoral Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
The Balmoral is a big-field heritage handicap over Ascot’s straight mile and closes Champions Day. Twenty-three run, including last year’s winner.
- Favourites struggle: just 1 of the last 10 favourites has won (Lord Glitters, 2017).
- Look for a price: 5 of the last 10 winners started 10/1 or bigger, including Shelir at 80/1 in 2022.
- Weight: no winner in the last 10 years carried more than 9st 6lb, which counts against Persica (10st 2lb), Room Service (9st 11lb) and Jagged Edge (9st 7lb).
- Ratings sweet spot: 7 of the last 10 winners were rated between 101 and 105.
- Defending champion: Crown Of Oaks won last year off 99 for William Haggas, who has won it twice in the last 10 years. He is now rated 104 and is one of three Haggas runners with Bullet Point and Scoville.
- Draw: 6 of the last 10 winners came from stalls 1 to 8, although Crown Of Oaks won from stall 23 last year.
16:35 Ascot
Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored By Qatar Racing)
- Going Good
- Distance 1m 0f 0y
- Class Class 2
- Race Type Flat Turf
- Surface Turf
- Runners 20
- 1st £103,080
- 2nd £48,340
- 3rd £24,180
- 4th £12,080
- 5th £6,040
- 6th £3,020
Runners: 20 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly sunny
Persica 22 days 
Room Service 31 days 
Jagged Edge 25 days 
Indalo 21 days 
Ebts Guard 35 days Torito 81 days 
Orandi 13 days 
Valvano 14 days 
Bullet Point 35 days 
Colori Forever 22 days 
Classic 43 days 
Mister Winston 21 days 
Whip Cracker 29 days 
Scoville 35 days 
Excellent Believe 21 days Fifth Column 35 days 
Hickory 14 days 
Brian 6 days 
Gavriel 21 days 
Tribal Chief 24 days 
Crown Of Oaks 31 days Terms and conditions
*Odds displayed on this page are sourced directly from online bookmakers. Please check all details before placing your bet(s). 18+ only.
Betting Forecast
28/1 Persica, 50/1 Room Service, 16/1 Jagged Edge, 12/1 Indalo, 12/1 Ebts Guard, 33/1 Torito, 33/1 Orandi, 28/1 Valvano, 12/1 Bullet Point, 12/1 Colori Forever, 20/1 Classic, 25/1 Mister Winston, 25/1 Whip Cracker, 9/2 Scoville, 12/1 Excellent Believe, 16/1 Fifth Column, 14/1 Hickory, 40/1 Brian, 4/1 Gavriel, 16/1 Tribal Chief, 20/1 Wise Prince, 66/1 Arctic Thunder
Non-runners
Crown Of Oaks
Verdict
Course specialist HICKORY didn’t get to show what he is capable of when mid-division over 7f here last time, when he had too much to do once in the clear, and he’s the selection with the return to 1m a firm plus. Excellent Believe had no luck at the Curragh last month on his second stable start yet still managed to finish third, and he is second choice ahead of the improving Gosden 3yo Gavriel. Doncaster winner Scoville is another to consider, along with last year’s runner-up Ebt’s Guard, while Whip Cracker is an interesting outsider back up to 1m.[Ben Hutton]
Saturday trends summary
- Back the favourite: the Long Distance Cup (6 from 10), and the Fillies & Mares and Champion Stakes (5 from 10 each).
- Look for a price: the Champions Sprint and Balmoral, where favourites are 1 from 10 and 7 and 5 of the last 10 winners respectively started 10/1 or bigger.
- Defending champions: Calandagan (Champion Stakes), Kalpana (Fillies & Mares, going for a hat-trick), Crown Of Oaks (Balmoral) and the 2024 Sprint winner Kind Of Blue.
- Trainers to follow: Aidan O’Brien and the Gosden stable in the Long Distance Cup and Fillies & Mares, and William Haggas in the Balmoral.
18+ | Please gamble responsibly. Odds correct at time of writing and subject to change.
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