New option for Palace Pier as Qipco British Champions Day entries are revealed

Stars of the season Palace Pier, St Mark’s Basilica, Snowfall, Adayar and Poetic Flare are among an outstanding list of entries for Qipco British Champions Day on October 16.

£4 million in prize-money is offered on Britain's richest raceday, up from £2.5m in 2020, with the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes looking set to be one of the races of the season.

Last year's winner The Revenant could feature along with Palace Pier, Guineas winners Mother Earth and Poetic Flare, and Alcohol Free, who landed last week's Sussex Stakes.

Champions Day entries

Top-class performers Lady Bowthorpe, St Mark’s Basilica and Love could drop down to a mile after plundering top-level prizes over 1m2f, while William Haggas also entered hugely exciting Goodwood winner Baaeed.

Many of those were also given Champion Stakes entries, while Tarnawa, Alenquer and the classy Derby and Oaks winners Adayar and Snowfall could clash over 1m2f.

Electric Lockinge Stakes winner Palace Pier could move up to a ten-furlong trip for the Champion Stakes. Joint-trainer John Gosden said: "He had a blood disorder right after the Queen Anne and had to miss the Sussex Stakes, but all being well he’ll be in the Jacques le Marois at Deauville and then we’ll take it forward from there.

“The QEII is a definite possibility again, but he’s also entered for the Champion Stakes and it would be interesting to see him at a mile and a quarter. It’s still a long way off, so we’ll see.”

Starman the big name among 38 Sprint entries

July Cup winner Starman heads the potential runners in the British Champions Sprint Stakes where he could take on big-race winners Kinross, Creative Force and Rohaan.

Archie Watson won the Group 1 prize last year with Glen Shiel and he could be doubly represented with the reigning champion and Dragon Symbol, second in a series of top sprints, among the entries.

Starman: could head to AscotCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Watson said: “Glen Shiel will certainly finish his year off back at Ascot in the Champions Sprint, and he won’t mind what the ground is. Dragon Symbol may well finish his season back up at six there too, and I don’t think he’ll mind what the ground is either.”

Trueshan could clash with Stradivarius in the Long Distance Cup, while smart three-year-olds Lone Eagle, Sir Lucan and Mojo Star could also be tested at the two-mile distance.

Wonderful Tonight could take on the aforementioned Love, Tarnawa and Snowfall in her defence of the Fillies & Mares Stakes.

Early bird tickets are on sale until Friday and this will be the final opportunity to purchase tickets at a reduced price. This offers up to a £20 reduction on Queen Anne enclosure admission while tickets for the King Edward VII enclosure are close to selling out.

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