Saturday, 19th October, sees the last signature day of the British flat season as Ascot hosts the British Champions Day finale. Marking the end of another memorable campaign: this fixture sees the crowning of the Champion trainer and jockey for 2024 before the focus switches firmly to the jumps action.
In addition to the awards ceremony, we also have a sizzling six-race card as many of the stars of the season return for one last hurrah on British soil. With events over trips ranging from 6f to 2m, just about every Group class performer in training has a legitimate target.
With the countdown into the final two weeks, we pick out our best early bets in the five Group class contests on offer.
1:20 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup, 2m, Group 2
The opening event for the stayers may “only” be a Group 2 affair, but the field is peppered with runners used to plying their trade in Group 1 company - including the hot favourite Kyprios. Currently trading at 4/6 with BetVictor, the Aidan O’Brien star has cut a swathe through the division in 2024. A perfect six from six this season, having repeated his 2022 victories in the Vintage Crop Stakes, Saval Beg Levmos Stakes, Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup, Irish St. Leger, and Prix du Cadran, he’s the best stayer in training and looks mightily tough to beat – as those skinny odds suggest.
Those looking to take Kyprios on will point to the fact that he has had a longer season than many and is yet to win this race – his only previous appearance saw him finish a neck second to Trawlerman in the 2023 edition. However, that defeat came on his second start following a 344-day injury-enforced absence, and he has been all but unstoppable since.
The aforementioned Trawlerman, from the John & Thady Gosden operation, heads up the opposition. Unlike Kyprios, this son of Golden Horn has enjoyed a light campaign, having not been off the track since chasing the favourite home in the Gold Cup. Looking like a big danger until being outbattled close home in that 2m4f event, this drop in trip may be in his favour, but odds of 10/3 with bet365 don’t offer much in the way of each way value.
Hailing from the same yard, Sweet Willam (6/1 with bet 365) will have his third crack at Kyprios in 2024. Six lengths adrift in the Gold Cup, he edged closer when four lengths down at Goodwood but will need a career-best effort to turn the tables.
The three-year-old Illinois (8/1 with bet365) would rate an interesting contender but may not tackle 2m until next year. At the other end of the age spectrum, it’s hard to discount Alan King’s Trueshan (11/1 with bet365), with the eight-year-old having landed the 2020, 2021, and 2022 editions of this. However, he managed only a 14½l fourth in 2023 and is winless in five Group class outings in 2024, suggesting his powers may be on the wane. On a more positive, his runners-up effort to Kyprios in the Prix Du Cadran last time out was a fine effort, and he may just be running into form at the right time.
Al Nayyir (4/1 with BetVictor) is another to note, having posted a big career best last time out at Newmarket, but is again short enough in the market.
Overall, this isn’t the most appealing contest for an each-way punt, but if there is one who could shorten in the market, it is the James Owen-trained Burdett Road. A Grade 2 winner over obstacles, the four-year-old enjoyed no luck in the Ebor or the Listed Stand Cup Stakes but benefited from a switch to front running tactics when hacking up in a Listed soft ground event at Newmarket last time. That came over 1m4f, but he should stay this far on his hurdling form and relishes soft ground. At 66/1 with bet365, he could be worth a small each-way play.
Best Early Bet: Burdett Road each way @ 66/1 with bet365
1:55 Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes, 6f, Group 1
Whereas the staying division was a one-horse race in 2024, the sprinters have taken turns to beat each other – lending a wide-open look to this 6f affair. 2022 champ Kinross (4/1 with BetGoodwin) currently shades favouritism, following his solid second in the Prix de la Foret at the Arc Meeting. He’s a likeable sort, but a strike rate of 12.50% over 6f, as opposed to 66.67% at 7f, tempers enthusiasm.
Next in line is the William Haggas-trained Montassib (6/1 with LivescoreBet), who took his turn in the spotlight when grabbing the Sprint Cup at odds of 25/1. That represented a career-high for the six-year-old, who also mastered Kinross in the Chipchase Stakes and boasts a perfect two-from-two record over this trip on soft ground.
Having bagged the Group 2 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes and Group 1 July Cup, Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Mill Stream (10/1 with Boylesports) is enjoying a productive campaign. However, his form tailed off a little when fifth in the Prix Maurice de Gheest last time, and he managed only eighth in the 2023 edition. He needs to bounce back but should benefit from a 76-day break ahead of this.
Moving down the list, Kevin Ryan’s Inisherin (16/1 with BetVictor) impressed in the Commonwealth Cup but disappointed against his elders in the July Cup and Sprint Cup. He can’t be written off yet but has questions to answer for now.
Flora Of Bermuda (10/1 with LivescoreBet) is due a change of luck in these events and shouldn’t mind the likely soft ground. Denied a run when coming with a strong challenge in the Sprint Cup last time, she makes the shortlist, but the best early value lies with 2023 hero Art Power. This Tim Easterby runner doesn’t jump out on current form – his best recent effort over this trip seeing him finish fourth in the July Cup, but, significantly, he is yet to race on his favoured soft ground in 2024. Now seven years of age, this son of Dark Angel boasts career form figures of 14431351 over this trip on soft ground or worse. At 25/1 with BetGoodwin, he looks worth chancing to hit the frame.
Best Early Bet: Art Power each way @ 25/1 with BetGoodwin
2:35 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, 1m4f, Group 1
Arc heroine Bluestocking (4/1 with Betfred) leaps out amongst the entries for the headline event for the fairer sex, but reports suggest the Ralph Beckett star may be allowed to put her feet up for the season following that mammoth Longchamp effort.
The most upwardly mobile filly in the lineup is the Andrew Balding-trained Kalpana (7/4 with BetVictor). Only making her debut in January of this year, this three-year-old by Study Of Man has rocketed through the ranks – picking up wins in Novice, Handicap, Listed, and Group 3 company. However, she has yet to race on anything slower than good ground and makes limited early appeal at such a short price.
Successful with Hydrangea (2017) and Magical (2018), Aidan O’Brien has no fewer than seven entered in 2024, headed by the three-year-old Opera Singer (12/1 with Betfred). Following an injury-delayed return, this one re-entered the Winner’s Enclosure in the Nassau Stakes, only to disappoint when fifth to Bluestocking in the Prix Vermeille. That said, that effort doesn’t look too bad in hindsight, and this Justify filly may bounce back. Stablemate Content (14/1 with bet365) comes into it on the form of her Yorkshire Oaks success, but disappointed in France last time – beating only one home in the Prix de l’Opera. Of the other O’Brien runners, the wonderfully bred Grateful (16/1 with LivescoreBet) makes plenty of appeal following her excellent win in the Prix de Royallieu success, but in common with Bluestocking, reports suggest she may be done for the season.
Having sent out the winner three times in the past seven years, anything hailing from the yard of John & Thady Gosden is worth a second look in the market. Queen Of The Pride and Danielle look a little short of the required standard, but Emily Upjohn (10/1 with bet365) and One Evening (66/1 with bet365) are interesting.
The former is thoroughly proven in this grade, landed the 2022 edition of this, and ran well to finish third to Bluestocking in the Vermeille last time. However, at this stage, we prefer a small each-way play on One Evening, whose recent efforts read well. 4½l adrift of Grateful last time, she would have finished closer but for a wide passage. Before that, she lost out by just ¼l to Arc runner-up Aventure, who would be vying for favouritism if lining up here. This represents a quick turnaround, but One Evening has enjoyed a light campaign (only three starts in 2024), and connections may roll the dice.
Best Early Bet: One Evening each way @ 66/1 with bet365
3:15 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, 1m, Group 1
Despite being turned over at odds on last time out in the Prix du Moulin, Roger Varian’s late bloomer, Charyn, remains in contention for Horse Of The Year honours, following wins in the bet365 Mile, Queen Anne Stakes, and Prix Jacques le Marois. Proven over the trip, in this grade, and at Ascot, it’s hard to fault his claims. He’s a 6/4 chance with LivescoreBet but shouldn’t start too much shorter on the day.
Another to note from the British yards is the David Menusier-trained Tamfana (7/1 with BetVictor). Unlucky not to win the 1000 Guineas, she gained a deserved first Group 1 in the Sun Chariot Stakes last time and rates a danger to all if turned out quickly.
Aidan O’Brien holds six entries at this stage, the pick of whom is Henry Longfellow (14/1 with Betfred). A Group 1 winner of the National Stakes as a juvenile, this Dubawi colt hasn't hit the heights in 2024, with the pick of his efforts seeing him go down by a neck to Rosallion in the St. James’s Palace Stakes. He was below par in the Prix du Moulin but boasts every chance if he returns to his Royal Ascot form.
The French raiders have claimed four of the past ten editions of this and have three entered this year in the shape of Big Rock (25/1 with bet365), Metropolitan (10/1 with BetVictor), and Facteur Cheval(12/1 with BetVictor).
Big Rock arrives as the defending champion but has been below his best in five starts since joining the Maurizio Guarnieri operation, whilst Metropolitan has three lengths to find with Charyn from their clash in the Prix Jacques Le Marois. Facteur Cheval is the most interesting as he bids to go one better than when chasing Big Rock home in 2023. With form figures of 1114132232 over this trip on good to soft or worse, this Ribchester colt scores top marks for consistency under the likely conditions. Trained with an Autumn campaign in mind, he arrives as a fresher horse than in 2023 and ran a cracker to finish third on ground too quick in the Sussex Stakes last time.
Best Early Bet: Facteur Cheval each way @ 12/1 with bet365
3:55 Qipco British Champion Stakes, 1m2f, Group 1
Last but not least, the big one. Can the William Haggas-trained Economics (5/4 with QuinnBet) become the seventh horse to do the Irish and English Champion Stakes double in the same year? Four from four in 2024, the three-year-old has followed up his Dante Stakes demolition job with success in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano and a tough-as-teak neck verdict over Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion Stakes last time. He’s hugely talented and the one to beat, but would have a question to answer if the rain arrived, with his only previous defeat coming on heavy ground.
Hampton Court Stakes winner Calandagan (2/1 with BetVictor) comes next and boasts rock-solid credentials. Already a winner on going ranging from Heavy to Good to Firm, he has few concerns regarding the ground and backed up his win at the Royal Meeting with an excellent second to City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International.
Likeable as the market leaders are, we will look further down the list for an each-way option. Los Angeles (12/1 with bet365) is yet to run a bad race all season and doesn’t have much to find with Economics on their clash in the Irish Champion Stakes. However, his effort in the Arc must have taken a bit out of him, and he may lack the gears to score over this trip at the top level.
The one who may be underestimated in the market is the Joseph O’Brien-trained Al Riffa (33/1 with BetVictor). The Arc didn’t go to plan for this four-year-old, partly due to being trapped out wide for much of the way, but, unlike Los Angeles, he didn’t have a particularly tough race once it became clear his chance had gone. He also boasts rock-solid form at this trip, having finished a length adrift of City Of Troy in the Coral-Eclipse and only ¾l behind Arc hero Ace Impact in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornana. The final tick in the box comes in the shape of his sire Wootton Bassett, who sired 2016 winner Almanzor and last year’s champ King Of Steel.
Best Early Bet: Al Riffa each way @ 33/1 with BetVictor
Paul Harrison
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
