Tomorrow marks the end of the European flat season for horse racing as we celebrate The Qipco British Champions Day.
Held at the historic Ascot racecourse, the event boasts the richest day in the British racing calendar with £3.75 million prize money on offer and the biggest trainers and jockeys in the game.
Champions Day is a relatively new addition to the racing calendar and will take place for only the fourth time on Saturday. In the past it has drawn flat-racing wonder-colt Frankel who ran the last race of his stellar unbeaten career there in 2012.
Although the current soft to heavy going has caused some high profile absentees, Ascot’s Clerk of the Course Chris Stickels still expects a fantastic day of racing with horses that love soft ground ready to step in to the limelight.
2000 Guineas winner Night of Thunder, Noble Mission, Custom Cut and last year’s Derby winner Ruler of the World have been declared and there is no doubt the competition will be fierce.
Saturday will see the very best of the ten-furlong horses in the feature race, the Champion Stakes, at 4.05pm, along with the best milers in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
The recent retirement of racing rock stars Australia and Kingman has been a real disappointment for fans but this only opens a door for new champions to emerge.
Sponsors Qipco are offering free entry for students and although punters may have to brave a few showers, the atmosphere promises to be something special.
Star Horses: Night of Thunder (3.30pm Queen Elizabeth II Stakes) Noble Mission and Free Eagle (4.05pm Qipco Champion Stakes)
Danger horse: Jack Dexter (2.20pm Qipco British Champion Sprint Stakes)
Feature image courtesy of John Mason, with thanks
