Ascot Champions Day Antepost Predictions: An Early Look At The Betting For Flat Season Finale

British Champions Day is rightly described as the grand finale of the flat racing season in Britain and  it always attracts some of the world’s finest horses – here, our tipster previews the ante-post markets.

One of the main highlights on Champions Day is the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. It is Europe’s richest mile race and generally attracts a star-studded line-up.

12:55 pm British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 2)

If Aidan O’Brien sends Scandinavia to the Prix du Cadran, then his progressive stablemate JAN BREUGHEL becomes the main protagonist for the Ballydoyle team.

He heads to Ascot on the back of a strong third-place finish behind Scandinavia in the Irish St Leger, proving that two miles could well be within his repertoire.

1:20 pm Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes

Trainer Michael Dods has explicitly said this £250,000 target will be ARAPAHO GOLD’s (NAP) “Cup Final” for the season. If he lines up on the day, he will carry immense stable confidence and will likely be a strong favourite in our horse racing betting market.

2:05 pm British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1)

William Haggas’s speedball ALMARAQ (NB) is currently the highest-rated sprinter in Europe which makes him the clear horse to beat at Ascot.

He took the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot before handing out a four-length thrashing in the Sprint Cup at Haydock.

2:45 pm British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1)

I personally cannot see Kalpana turning up here, especially if she wins, or places in the Arc. I’ll therefore be taking a punt on WAARDAH to get the job done here for the girls.

Successful in the Group 2 Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes at Doncaster’s St Leger Festival, I strongly suspect autumn is her time to flourish and she will be well suited to the Ascot going, which is generally on the soft side at this time of year.

3:25 pm Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1)

With Bow Echo retired, GSTAAD is widely expected to dominate this late-season championship race for the one mile division.

This three-year-old rarely runs a bad race, landing the Irish 2,000 Guineas, as well as securing runner-up spots in the 2,000 Guineas, the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, and the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. Champions Day could well be his time to shine again in a Group 1.

4:05 pm Champion Stakes (Group 1)

The Ed Walker-trained ALMAQAM will be a massive player if he gets conditions suit.

Third in this race last year, he recently finished a close second in the Juddmonte International at York. The more rain they get in the Ascot area, the better for this five-year-old, and at odds of around 7/1 in our sports betting, an each-way interest is certainly advised.

4:40 pm Balmoral Handicap (Heritage Handicap)

A wide open race, but the each-way nod goes to the William Haggas-trained SCOVILLE who arrives here on the back of a huge career-best win on 12 Sept at the Doncaster St Leger meeting.

Ridden by Daniel Tudhope, he accounted for a competitive 17-runner field in a Class 2 mile handicap, just so proving he has the temperament to navigate those large-field situations. His current odds of 14/1 are more than generous.

*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*