QIPCO British Champions Day Saturday 17th October British Champions Day - Saturday 17th October Super mare Magical, ace stayer Stradivarius and Palace Pier – The trio feature among 22 horses who will be in action having arguably the best turf miler anywhere in the world – are among already registered a Group 1 victory, including five Classic winners. the headline acts ready to light up the 10th running of QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday. In total, 87 runners have been declared for the six races, a joint- record for a prestigious and star-studded day of racing. 1.20pm (BST) QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 2) (3200m) The world’s top-rated stayer, Ascot for the third time the previous Stradivarius, attempts to regain month. The Key Trend his crown in this race after a shock defeat at the hands of Kew Stradivarius will face an intriguing Since the race was first run in 2011, five winners had run Gardens 12 months ago. new rival in the shape of two-time in that year’s Gold Cup at Irish St Leger winner Search For A the Royal Meeting, finishing The brilliant six-year-old, bred Song. She was impressive when 13321. Four of the six Irish- and owned by Bjorn Nielsen, beating Fujaira Prince, the Sky Bet trained winners ran in that won the Qatar Goodwood Ebor winner, by two lengths at The year’s Irish St Leger, finishing Cup for a record fourth time Curragh last time and her trainer, 4512. at Goodwood in July, having Dermot Weld, already has two Trends tip: Stradivarius landed the Gold Cup at Royal previous wins in this race in the bag. Nick 1-2-3: Lightfoot’s 1. Search For A Song verdict 2. Stradivarius Click image to play video 3. Spanish Mission 1.55pm (BST) QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1) (1200m) Runner-up last year, One Master attempts to go one better, having Haydock last time, when Glen since made history by becoming the first triple winner of the Prix de la Shiel (second). Art Power The Key Trend Foret at Longchamp. She’s an admirable mare with conditions in her (fourth), The Tin Man (sixth), favour, but her hold-up style always leaves her open to bad-luck stories. Lope Y Fernandez (seventh) Only one of the past eight and Brando (ninth) were all winners, Muharaar in 2015, had landed its previous race. Dream Of Dreams, twice behind. Librisa Breeze (2017) and beaten a head in the Donjuan Triumphant (2019) Diamond Jubilee Stakes Dream Of Dreams is unbeaten had been beaten in all their at the Royal Meeting, was in two starts when partnered by races that year, while Sands brilliant when running away Oisin Murphy, the champion Of Mali (2018) had lost his with the Hungerford Stakes jockey, while another exciting previous four starts and at Newbury in August and young riding talent, Cieren Gordon Lord Byron (2014) was on a seven-race losing streak. looked in control of the Sprint Fallon, will again be aboard Trends tip: The Tin Man Cup from some way out at July Cup winner Oxted. Nick 1-2-3: Lightfoot’s 1. Dream Of Dreams verdict 2. One Master Click image 3. Oxted to play video 1 British Champions Day - Saturday 17th October 2.30pm (BST) QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1) (2400m) David Menuisier In Wonderful Tonight, is hoping he appears to have an The Key Trend Wonderful ideal candidate to put Tonight can end the record straight. The Aidan O’Brien and John Gosden have his quest for a three-year-old filly, who between them landed the past four renewals, but their domination goes first Ascot winner features among a final further. Last year they were responsible in style here. field of 12 is thriving on for the 1-2 (separated by a short head) Menuisier is a her racing and scooped and 12 months before that, the 1-2-3. multiple Group a Group 1 in France on And in 2017 they were responsible for 1-winning trainer her latest start. the first four home among the British but, in his seventh and Irish-trained runners. season, a success The other Group 1 Trends tip: Frankly Darling of any description winner in the line-up is at Ascot has the Ger Lyons-trained Even So, who landed the Juddmonte Irish Oaks somehow so far in impressive style at The Curragh in July when she had the Aidan eluded him. O’Brien-trained pair of Passion (third) and Laburnum (fourth) behind. Nick 1-2-3: Lightfoot’s 1. Dame Malliot verdict 2. Frankly Darling Click image 3. Passion to play video 3.05pm (BST) Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1) (Sponsored By Qipco) (1600m) at Royal Ascot in June. The Key Trend Trainer John Gosden is chasing a fifth Six of the nine winners win in the race. Palace Pier, who as of the race at Ascot have usual will be ridden by Frankie Dettori, been three-year-olds and completed his preparation with a the last three renewals gallop on the Rowley Mile Course at at Newmarket were also Newmarket. won by a three-year-old. Since 2002, only two four- Gosden is also represented by year-olds have prevailed. Nazeef, a game winner of the Trends tip: Palace Pier Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Palace Pier gets the opportunity to cement his standing as the top- Stakes at Newmarket this month. Charm Spirit (2014) and Solow (2015) rated miler in the world in a cracking renewal of this famous race. Five have been French-trained winners in recent years and The Revenant, runs have yielded five wins for the three-year-old Kingman colt, who runner-up to King Of Change last year (when Veracious was fourth), swept through from off the pace to land the St James’s Palace Stakes will attempt to emulate them. Nick 1-2-3: Lightfoot’s 1. Palace Pier verdict 2. Molatham Click image 3. Nazeef to play video 2 British Champions Day - Saturday 17th October 3.40pm (BST) QIPCO Champion Stakes (2400m) The contest promises much, with six of Magical’s rivals also being The Key Trend Group 1 winners and seven of the field boasting an official rating of This is a great race for market- 119 or higher. She will be joined leaders - the favourite has won for the past four years. in the line-up by star stablemates And overall, since the race was Serpentine, this year’s runaway moved to Ascot in 2011, the Investec Derby winner, plus last record of the market leader has year’s Juddmonte International read 212531111. winner Japan. Trends tip: Magical Addeybb will attempt to go one The Aidan O’Brien-trained Magical has already accumulated seven better than 12 months ago and, like Magical, has already enjoyed a Group 1 victories and will become the first horse to achieve three fabulous year, chalking up two Group 1 victories in Australia. John wins on QIPCO British Champions Day if she can retain her QIPCO Gosden has two leading contenders in Mishriffand Lord North. Champion Stakes crown here. Nick 1-2-3: Lightfoot’s 1. Magical verdict 2. Mishriff Click image 3. Addeybb to play video 4.15pm (BST) Balmoral Handicap (1600m) David O’Meara has saddled the winner twice plus had two The Key Trend places in the past four years, so It’s notable that 20 three-year- his runners are all worth close olds have run in the Balmoral inspection, even if they look and none have won. In addition, handicapped up to their best. a dozen horses have run carrying a weight penalty – four The same cannot be said for of them starting at 6-1 or shorter Raeeq, a three-year-old Kingman - and the closest any of them colt held in high esteem by Brian have finished is third. Meehan. He was having only his Trends tip: Kynren For the past three years, the winner of this always fiercely-competitive fifth start when romping home in mile handicap has swept through from a long way off the pace. As in a 7f handicap at the start of the month and, raised 11lb (5kg) in the the Sprint, it seems likely the runners will end up crowding on the far weights, is well-in here running under just a 6lb (2.7kg) penalty. rail so a low draw may be of some benefit. Nick 1-2-3: Lightfoot’s 1. Raeeq verdict 2. Bell Rock Click image 3. Ropey Guest to play video 3 Your guide to some of the big-name jockeys taking part on QIPCO British Champions Day Best chance - Fujaira Prince (1.20) Best chance - Wonderful Tonight (2.30) Best chance - Raeeq (4.15) Best chance - Palace Pier (3.05) Best chance - Dame Malliot (2.30) Best chance - Starman (1.55) Best chance - Magical (3.40) Best chance - Dream Of Dreams (1.55) 4 It’s not all about the winner. £1m+ Trifecta, Quinella and Swinger World Pools in every C race on British Champions Day M Y CM MY CY CMY K The average Trifecta dividend last year paid £3269.60 to a £1 stake.