Horse Racing Tips

Ascot Champions Day Antepost Tips 2026: Who To Back For Flat Finale?

23 minutes ago

| BY Steve Mullington

Steve Mullington casts his eye over the Champions Day Group 1 entries, with a few ante-post selections for William Hill News readers.

The announcement that Qatar Racing will succeed its parent company, Qipco, as title sponsor of British Champions Day was made on the same day that the early closing entries were published for the five Group 1 races on the card.

Qatar Racing Champion Stakes 1m2f (Group 1)

A bumper field of 45 entries have been received for the day’s feature race, including last year’s top finishers and numerous elite three-year-olds.

Last year’s one-two Calandagan and Ombudsman as well as the star three-year-olds Constitution River and Diamond Necklace are currently in the frame for the race.

Qatar Racing Queen Elizabeth II Stakes 1m (Group 1)

There are 36 entries currently engaged in this prestigious mile contest, spearheaded by brilliant Group 1 winning milers.

Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten filly Diamond Necklace is also in this early line-up, alongside Bow Echo, Blue Bolt, Docklands, Gstaad, Precise, Ten Bob Tony, Thesecretadversary and True Love.

Qatar Racing British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes 1m4f (Group 1)

Two-time winner and recent King George heroine Kalpana heads 48 entries for the Qatar Racing British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes alongside Estrange, Minnie Hauk, Thundering On and Johanna Walsh.

Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint Stakes 6f (Group 1)

Almeraq, Comanche Brave and Mission Central, the winners of three of the four Group 1 sprints held so far this season in Britain, are among 42 speedsters entered. Unfortunately Venetian Sun is now out for the rest of the season due to a tendon injury.

Qatar Racing British Champions Long Distance Cup 2m (Group 1)

This epic distance event could well see Trawlerman and Scandinavia renew their rivalry while Caballo De Mar and Limestone are also among 38 strong entries.

Champions Day Antepost Fancies:

Ombudsman (Champion Stakes) opens up the early ante-post market leader in the Champion Stakes. And given that his primary rival, Calandagan, may skip Ascot in favour of the then Europe’s highest-rated horse has to be the logical punter’s choice at this juncture.

Should he beat Constitution River at the York Ebor Festival, then his current 5/2 horse racing betting odds for Ascot are sure to shrink.

Kalpana (Fillies & Mares Stakes): Fresh off her victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the Juddmonte representative is certainly the horse most punters are gravitating towards in this Fillies & Mares season finale.

Gstaad (Queen Elizabeth II Stakes): Gstaad achieved top-flight success earlier this season by claiming the Group 1 Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh in fine style.

Although he has finished a narrow runner-up to his nemesis Bow Echo three times this season, one would like to think that the typically testing ground at Ascot in October would herald a different result for the Aidan O’Brien runner, and his current price of 3/1 in our antepost sports betting reflects his chances.