British Champions Day: results and race reaction - how it happened

British Champions Day: there are six races on the card at Ascot on SaturdayCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

The Flat season draws to a close on Saturday but with one final showstopper. This is Qipco British Champions Day, the most valuable raceday of the year domestically and packed with a plethora of star performers at Ascot.

This is the place for absolutely everything you need to guide you through the afternoon's action including fast-results, tips from our experts, live analysis on the action and all the breaking news from the track.

Of course, your insight is another key aspect of our coverage so do get in touch via liveblog@racingpost.com or get in touch with me on socials directly at @JamesStevens180. My first question to you is a simple one: what is your NAP of the day? Good luck!

1.20: Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 2)
Racecard | Race preview
1.55: Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1)
Racecard | Race preview
2.35: Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1)
Racecard | Race preview
3.15: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1)
Racecard | Race preview
3.55: Qipco Champion Stakes (Group 1)
Racecard | Race preview
4.35: Balmoral Handicap
Racecard | Race preview

Champions Day: the ground is soft at AscotCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

By Andrew Dietz

The ground at Ascot on Qipco British Champions Day was eased to soft all over on Saturday morning following 4.5mm of rain overnight.

Although more rain is forecast throughout the morning, track conditions, which had been soft, good to soft in places following a dry day on Friday, are not expected to ease further.

Speaking just after 8.30am, clerk of the course Chris Stickels said: "We've had five millimetres of rain in total and it's still raining now. The ground is soft on both the inner Flat and the straight track.

"The rain is due to clear by late morning, and it could only last another hour, and providing the forecast is accurate, I'd imagine we'll start on soft ground."

The star-studded meeting, which includes four Group 1 contests, is being partially held on the inner Flat track after Ascot was forced to switch three races from the round course on Thursday due to heavy going.

GoingStick readings were updated on Saturday morning to 6.4 (from 6.3) on the straight track and 6.6 (from 6.8) on the inner course.

The Long Distance Cup (1.20), Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (2.35) and Economics' clash with Calandagan in the Champion Stakes (3.55) are the races to have been switched to the inner course, in accordance with the meeting's race conditions.

The Champions Sprint (1.55), Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (3.15) – in which Sirona is a non-runner – and Balmoral Handicap (4.35) will be held on the straight track.

Just one non-runner so far this morning, with Sirona taken out of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes because of a bruised foot.

She was a 100-1 shot and one of two in the race for David Menuisier, who also has leading fancy Tamfana in contention.

Calandagan: produced the second highest RPR in Britain this seasonCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Here's a look at the top five performers appearing on British Champions Day ranked on their best Racing Post Rating achieved in Britain this season. You can see the full list here:

1. Calandagan
Qipco Champion Stakes, 6-4

The French-trained Calandagan produced an RPR of 127 when a length second to City Of Troy (his win was rated 129, the best performance in Britain in 2024) in the Juddmonte International. He has not been seen since York in August but was a six-length winner at Royal Ascot earlier this season.

Calandagan15:55 Ascot

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Jky: Stephane Pasquier Tnr: F-H Graffard

2. Charyn
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, 13-8

Charyn has been one of the biggest improvers this season, going from being a Listed winner to two-time Group 1 winner in just a few months. He achieved an RPR of 124 when powering clear in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot in June, the joint-fifth best performance in Britain. He was rated 125 when doubling up in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville a month later.

Charyn15:15 Ascot

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Jky: Silvestre De Sousa Tnr: Roger Varian

3. Audience
Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes, 10-1

Audience defeated Charyn when making all to produce one of the shocks of the season when a 22-1 winner of the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May. That achieved an RPR of 123, ranking him tenth on the list, and he drops to a 6f distance for the first time in over two years this afternoon.

Audience13:55 Ascot

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Jky: Robert Havlin Tnr: John & Thady Gosden

4. Henry Longfellow
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, 17-2

The three-year-old is Aidan O'Brien's top performer in Britain this year to line up on British Champions Day. His best effort (123) came when running Rosallion close in the St James's Palace Stakes at this track in June, although he has been beaten twice since.

Henry Longfellow15:15 Ascot

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Jky: Ryan Moore Tnr: A P O'Brien

5. Kyprios
Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup, 4-5

Undoubtedly one of the biggest names across the Flat season, Kyprios is out to finish his season by making it 7-7 in 2024 in the opener. His best performance on ratings was the Goodwood Cup (122) but he has also captured the Gold Cup, Irish St Leger and Prix du Cadran during a phenomenal campaign.

Kyprios13:20 Ascot

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Jky: Ryan Moore Tnr: A P O'Brien

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Hollie Doyle and Tom Marquand: taking part in activities on trackCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Some of the events taking place around Ascot on British Champions Day . . .

11.30/12.25pm: jockey gym demonstration
David Egan and Harry Davies and then Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle will be flexing their muscles in a jockey gym on the Queen Anne Lawn in an exercise session.

12.15-12.35: jockey signing
Oisin Murphy (12.15), Hollie Doyle and Tom Marquand (12.35) meet members of the public.

1.35pm: vet talk
An expert insight from a vet takes questions in the Meet The Racehorse area on the Cedar Lawn. Side Glance, who won the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes for Andrew Balding, is on show today.

2.10pm: Paris 2024 medallists
Human athlete stars replace the equine ones as Olympians and Paralympians from Paris 2024 will be in the parade ring with their medals.

2.50pm: champion jockey presentation
Oisin Murphy will be presented with the 2024 Flat jockeys' championship trophy.

 3.30pm: Hall of Fame presentation
Jack Berry MBE will be inducted into the Qipco British Champions Series Hall of Fame in the parade ring.

 4.10pm: champion trainer presentation
Aidan O’Brien will be presented with the 2024 champion trainer award in the parade ring.

 4.45pm: Afterparty
Hot Chip (who are world-renowned apparently) headline the official afterparty at the Thunderdome, also featuring DJ Charlotte Stapleton.

Sean Dylan Bowen (left) leads Joe Leavy heading into the final day

We have some significant news regarding the race to be champion apprentice from Catterick.

Sean Dylan Bowen leads Joe Leavy by three heading into the final day but one of Leavy's mounts, Macanudo, has been declared a non-runner this morning.

That means he has just three chances Morandi Second (1.30), Small Fry (2.42) and Tyger Bay (5.15) to level Bowen's tally while the leader is also in action at Catterick with five rides.

There is, of course, a further complication in that one of Bowen's 44 winners is Manxman in last Saturday's Cesarewitch. He was promoted to first following the disqualification of Alphonse Le Grande for whip misuse and connections appealed against that decision yesterday.

The Racing Post's David Carr is at Catterick reporting throughout the afternoon on a big day for the two top young riders.

Catterick's champion conditional race: how it unfolds

1.30
Sean D Bowen - Molten Sea 3-1f
Joe Leavy - Morandi Second 4-1

2.42
Sean D Bowen - Spioradalta 12-1
Joe Leavy - Small Fry 5-6f

3.25
Sean D Bowen - Beltane 17-2

4.05
Sean D Bowen - Racingbreaks Ryder 15-8f

4.45
Sean D Bowen - Je Ne Sais Quoi 33-1

5.15
Joe Leavy - Tyger Bay 8-1

For a full preview of the day's action make sure to check out The Morning Post, the Racing Post's show with William Hill looking ahead to the action.

This morning Johnny Dineen, Paul Kealy, Charlie Poste, Dave Orton and Johnnie Simpson dissected the six races. Here are the NAPS for Kealy and Dineen, with the spotlight comment.

Paul Kealy

Tiffany (2.35 Ascot)

Perhaps ground softer than good is ideal and she should get that today; considered

Tiffany14:35 Ascot

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Jky: Luke Morris Tnr: Sir Mark Prescott Bt

Johnny Dineen

Serious Contender (3.05 Leopardstown)

Wootton Bassett colt; encouragement both runs so far; more to come and yard's first-string

Serious Contender15:05 Leopardstown

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Jky: Wayne Lordan Tnr: A P O'Brien

You can see much more tipping across the Racing Post website and app including Pricewise (£), a race-by-race preview from David Jennings and Harry Wilson, who has been in hot form this season.

Calandagan: popular in the betting with Paddy PowerCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The Champion Stakes (3.55) favourite Calandagan was on the drift early on but interest has picked up again since with the French challenger shortening back to 11-8 with Paddy Power.

Having been pushed out to 13-8 this morning, the biggest price since being declared on Thursday, punters have come back in for the French raider.

Meanwhile, leading English- and Irish-trained runners, Economics and Los Angeles, have drifted to 9-4 (from 2s) and 8-1 (from 7s) respectively. 

Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: "Calandagan was on the drift in the early exchanges but support has picked up heading into the afternoon and he's proving popular. We didn't expect Economics to be backed into favourite but he did shorten and has been fairly friendless in the market since. The same applies to Los Angeles."

Charyn is on course ahead of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (3.15). He has been solid in the betting and is 13-8 to complete a Group 1 hat-trick.

Clifford Lee: in great formCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

We've dug into the Signposts to find trainers and jockeys coming into Champions Day in form. You can see the full service daily on our Top Tips page.

Trainers

Karl Burke 12-38, 32 per cent strike-rate
Elite Status, Spycatcher, Swingalong (1.55), Ice Max (3.15), Royal Rhyme (3.55), Holloway Boy, Thunder Run (4.35)

David Menuisier 4-14, 29 per cent
Caius Chorister (1.20), War Chimes (2.35), Tamfana (3.15), Toimy Son (4.35)

John and Thady Gosden
11-39, 28 per cent
Sweet William, Trawlerman (1.20), Audience (1.55), Queen Of The Pride (2.35), Nashwa (3.55)

Jockeys

Clifford Lee
10-40, 25 per cent
Elite Status (1.55), Ice Max (3.15), Royal Rhyme (3.55)

William Buick
7-28, 25 per cent
Trawlerman (1.20), Mill Stream (1.55), Kalpana (2.35), Quddwah (3.15), Holloway Boy (4.35)

Billy Lee
9-46, 20 per cent
Moss Tucker (1.55)

Oli Bell: ITV Racing presenter likes chances of VadreamCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

By Jonathan Harding, reporting from Ascot

Odds-on favourites and star names are appearing at Ascot but ITV Racing's Oli Bell has selected 40-1 Vadream as his best bet of the day.

All three of her turf wins have come on soft or heavy ground and she ran well when fourth over the Champions Sprint (1.55) course and distance at the start of the month.

Bell, when asked for his best bet on the card, said: "I really like the chances of Vadream in the Sprint. She'll love the soft ground and has loads of form at Ascot. She's been in the mix in all the big sprints and her price looks too big"

Vadream13:55 Ascot

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Jky: Kieran Shoemark Tnr: Charlie Fellowes

We're still eager to hear from you for your NAP of the day! Email us at liveblog@racingpost.com. Here's a few selections from our Racing Post readers:

Adrian Pinney has gone with Kind Of Blue in the 1.55 while Marcus Rylewicz, emailing in from Germany likes Art Power (1.55), Tiffany (2.35), Iresine (3.55) and Cicero's Gift EW (4.35). 

Frankel and Tom Queally parade in front of the stands after the 2012 Champion StakesCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

It would not be British Champions Day without remembering the legendary Frankel. On this day in 2012, he brought the curtain down on an exceptional career with victory in the Champion Stakes.

Here is the opening to Alastair Down's report on that day. 

We've all been blessed in presence of a horse for all ages - Alastair Down

On an imperishable Ascot afternoon marbled through with emotion, the unbeaten force of thoroughbred nature that has been Frankel took his leave of us lesser creatures yesterday and now passes from our sight with his place in turf myth and legend forever assured.

And for all his 14 victories and nine consecutive Group 1s, Frankel has long ceased to be about facts and figures. The public's relationship with this unsurpassable horse has become a matter of the heart and, believe me, there were tears speckling the cheers because there is something almost inexplicably humbling about being in the presence of greatness of this magnitude.

We know we have never seen the likes of him and are all but certain that no members of preceding racing generations have either, and watching him and that genius Sir Henry Cecil yesterday just made you grateful to your very marrow that their time has also been your time.

Kyprios: looking to continue his winning runCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The first race of the day is the Group 2 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (1.20). Here's a quick look at the main runners.

Kyprios
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Jockey: Ryan Moore

An outstanding stayer who is bidding for a seventh straight win this season, having dominated the division with wins in the Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Prix du Cadran. He's had a long season and just a 14-day gap since his win on Arc weekend but if he remains in his usual form he should prove tough to beat.

Kyprios13:20 Ascot

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Jky: Ryan Moore Tnr: A P O'Brien

Trawlerman
T: John and Thady Gosden
J: William Buick

The last horse to beat Kyprios when winning this race by a neck 12 months ago and ran well when the placings were reversed in the Gold Cup back at this venue in June. He's had a break since which is a positive but he's never run on soft ground.

Trawlerman13:20 Ascot

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Jky: William Buick Tnr: John & Thady Gosden

Al Nayyir
T: Tom Clover
J: Luke Morris

Powered clear on soft ground to win the Listed Rose Bowl at Newmarket 23 days ago and will relish conditions. Is 0-8 in Group races but comes into this race in career best form.

Al Nayyir13:20 Ascot

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Jky: Luke Morris Tnr: Tom Clover

A champion kicks off British Champions Day as Kyprios records his 15th win and seventh of the season in the Long Distance Cup.

1. Kyprios 8-11F
2. Sweet William 8-1
3. Trawlerman 5-1

Kyprios: kicked off Champions Day with an impressive winCredit: Edward Whitaker

All of the talk in the Aidan O'Brien stable has been on City Of Troy but it is worth some reflecting on the extraordinary Kyprios. 

His success in the Qipco Long Distance Cup makes it seven wins from seven this season and he has won all of the top staying races this year. It is worth remembering this horse picked up an injury O'Brien said he was "a million to one" to come back and win a Gold Cup from.

It was textbook from Kyprios, travelling well and plugging on gamely and he deserves his place among the great horses O'Brien has trained.

The trainer, who was having his first winner on this day since 2019, paid tribute: "He's like something we've never seen, he's relentless and has an unbelievable amount of quality. It doesn't matter if you go slow or fast, he's just an incredible horse."

O'Brien also said he would be kept in training next season and he is 7-4 (from 5-2) with Coral for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 2025.

An update on the Long Distance Cup second and third Sweet William and Trawlerman from co-trainer Thady Gosden.

"Kyprios is Kyprios but they ran great races to finish second and third," he said to Racing TV. "Sweet William quickened up well when he was asked but Kyprios is a top stayer.

"We'll see with Trawlerman. He's run out in Dubai before and we might take him back out there for the staying races. Sweet William has had a long year so deserves a nice winter break."