Qipco’s British Champions Day at Ascot on October 18 will have no shortage of star power after entries were announced earlier this week. A multitude of top-class performers are hoping to run in the five Group races scheduled throughout the day.
The Champion Stakes has attracted 37 entries, including the last two winners of the Epsom Derby – Australia and Ruler Of The World. Should they both make it through selection, they could clash with unbeaten filly Taghrooda, who was awarded an automatic entry for the Fillies & Mares Stakes.
At the age of eight, Cirrus Des Aigles is still giving a roaring run and outperforming horses five years younger. The colt is very experienced in the race – winning the 2011 Champion Stakes and coming runner up the next two years.
Trainer Corine Barande-Barbe said: “Cirrus des Aigles is fine, he has recovered well from the injury that he sustained at Epsom on Derby Day, demonstrating his usual courage.
“He has come back into training and we are just starting to work him again, although we are doing everything very slowly and taking our time with him.
“I would like to get him back for the Prix Dollar at Longchamp [a race he has won twice before] on the day before the Arc and if everything goes well there it would be great to run him in the Champion Stakes for a fourth time.”
Bookmakers 
Paddy Power believe Cirrus des Aigles has it in him to win his fourth run of the course, opening the betting market with him as 5-2 favourite. Australia is a close second-favourite at 4-1, followed by Taghrooda (5-1), Mukhadram and Telescope (13-2).
The Kingman/Toronado Sussex Stakes clash was the highlight of Glorious Goodwood festival, and the pair could go for round two come October as they’re both entered in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. Paddy Power is backing Kingman to win at 4-7, while Toronado is a 7-1 shot. Toronado’s trainer has also entered Olympic Glory (5-1) and Toormore in the Group 1 mile, while fillies Miss France and Rizeena could give the colts some competition.
In the British Champions Sprint, Intrinsic could take on the powerful Sole Power/Slade Power duo. He’ll have a tough job ahead of him taking out Sole Power (9-2 favourite with Paddy Power) considering he’s currently a 12-1 shot.
Trainer Robert Cowell said: “Intrinsic is absolutely fine after Goodwood, he has come out of the race really well and looks wonderful. We could run him again quickly or wait until he is fresh, it wouldn’t matter with him.
“The Qipco British Champions Sprint is a strong possibility and I will be having a long chat with his owner, Malih al Basti, probably at the weekend, to map out a course of action for him.”
In addition to the five Group races, which also include the Fillies & Mares Stakes and British Champions Long Distance Cup, the Balmoral Handicap will be run at Ascot for the first time. Europe’s richest handicap has helped raise the total prize-money for the card to £3.75 million.
With so much action in the British Champions day event, you can place all your bets across the different race cards in the one spot at Paddy Power.
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