Run over 1m 1f 212y, the Champion Stakes attracts some of the top middle distance performers and is one of the feature Group 1 races on British Champions Day at Ascot. Dave Young goes down memory lane and looks back at recent runnings of the race and picks out all the vital stats and trends to try and help you find the winner.
Focused Trends
AGE
- 3yo – 4/14 (29%) & 4/10 (40%)
- 4yo – 5/14 (36%) & 4/10 (40%)
- 5yo – 3/14 (21%) & 0/10 (0%)
- 6yo – 2/14 (14%) & 2/10 (20%)
Six-year-olds are profitable to back blind with last year’s winner Anmaat a huge help at 40/1. Typically, the most likely winning age band is 3 and 4-year-olds but from a strike rate perspective they also encompass most of the runners.
STALLS
- Drawn in stall 5 or lower – 10/14 (71%) & 6/10 (60%)
Bar 2012 when Frankel won there have been at least 8 runners since the race moved to Ascot. It’s not an open and shut case, but there does seem to be an improved performance from runners drawn in stall 5 or lower over this 10-furlong trip.
PRICE
- Favourites – 6/14 (43%) & 5/10 (50%)
- SP of 4/1 or shorter – 7/14 (50%) & 5/10 (50%)
Not too much to be taken from price here with the last 10 renewals having 5 winning and 5 losing favourites. It’s worth noting that the 5 winning favourites also take all the top spots from horses priced 4/1 or shorter. Therefore, it’s fair to say that favourites take priority but then you’re looking at runners priced 7/1 or bigger when taking them on.
OFFICIAL RATING
- Winners with a weight adjusted OR of 120 or higher – 11/14 (76%) & 8/10 (80%)
Three-year-olds get 5lbs at this 10-furlong trip which would bring an extra qualifier in on weight adjusted ratings, however most winners regardless of age are Officially Rated 120 or higher.
LAST TIME OUT
- Won last time out – 6/14 (43%) & 4/10 (40%)
- Top 2 last time out – 9/14 (64%) & 5/10 (50%)
- Ran in the last 6 weeks – 9/14 (64%) & 8/10 (80%)
- Longchamp or Leopardstown last time out – 7/14 (50%) & 6/10 (60%)
Three of the last four winners finished 5th last time out and four of the last six winners filled that place too. Given that four of the last ten winners won last time out, it goes to show that form coming into this race is always a given.
There isn’t much improvement in the totals when you bring in horses who finished second last time out with those who won but it’s fair to say most winners will have run in the last 6 weeks and we can respect horses coming from Leopardstown or Longchamp.
GROUP 1 FORM
- Has won a Group 1 before now – 10/14 (71%) & 7/10 (70%)
Another hardly outlandish statement to be made here but most winners had already won a Group 1 before taking this race.
COURSE FORM
- Has run at Ascot – 8/14 (57%) & 5/10 (50%)
- Has won at Ascot – 5/8 (63%) & 4/5 (80%)
It’s preferable but not essential to have run at Ascot before and in more recent years it’s also been important to have won here for those who have tried more than once. Not an outlandish finding, but winning course form for horses who have 2 or more runs is essential, we can forgive horses with less or no experience.
HONOURS ROLL (This Century – GB bred unless stated):
- 2024 – Anmaat (IRE)
- 2023 – King Of Steel (USA)
- 2022 – Bay Bridge
- 2021 – Sealiway (FR)
- 2020 – Addeybb (IRE)
- 2019 – Magical (IRE)
- 2018 – Cracksman
- 2017 – Cracksman
- 2016 – Almanzor (FR)
- 2015 – Fascinating Rock (IRE)
- 2014 – Noble Mission
- 2013 – Farhh
- 2012 – Frankel
- 2011 – Cirrus Des Aigles (FR)