Ascot Champions Day tips, odds, preview and free bets
It's Champions Day on Saturday at Ascot Racecourse - the flat finale of the season that wraps up a tremendous few months.
It helps separate the best of the best horses from this season and often leaves a lasting legacy, should they go on to retire from here, just like Frankie Dettori as he makes his final appearance in the UK.
Dettori made a U-turn on his retirement plans and will instead head out to the US to ride for a season there as a free agent.
He can get some phenomenal rides to mark the occasion with a win too, but the focus is on the incredible amount of group races on offer at the Berkshire track.
This day in the racing calendar always provides lots of excitement as the season progresses the top horses contend against each other, but this is where they can get the final win to put their 2023 campaigns to bed.
Ascot Champions Day racecard and how to watch
- 1:15: Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 2) (British Champions Series) Cl1 (3yo+) 2m ITV
- 1:50: Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) Cl1 (3yo+) 6f ITV
- 2:25: Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m4f ITV
- 3:05: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored By Qipco) (Group 1) (British Champions Mile) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m ITV
- 3:45: Qipco Champion Stakes (British Champions Middle Distance) (Group 1) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m2f ITV
- 4:25: Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored By Qipco) Cl2 (3yo+) 1m ITV
This is a huge fixture and as such the entire Ascot Champions Day fixture will be shown live on ITV.
Ascot Champions Day betting tips
1.15: Trueshan 2/1
Trueshan looks like he'll get the conditions to suit and after two victories in quick succession last month looks set to impress here too.
He of course won this last year by a head having been beaten by a neck the month before by Coltrane.
Kyprios brushed off the cobwebs, making his first start in 344 days at the Curragh's Irish St Leger but could only come second to Eldar Eldarov.
But after being unbeaten in 2022 it's difficult to side against him, beating the likes of Stradivarius at Goodwood and Mojo Star at Royal Ascot.
Then there's Coltrane who could be a huge price on the day as he's been incredibly inconsistent this season.
Based on form and value Trueshan gets the nod, especially with a fair few Ascot wins to his name.
1.50: Shaquille 5/1
Kinross has been a favourite in the betting tips for much of this year but his record over 6f as opposed to the 7f he's been more successful at this year suggests it could be open for an each-way bet.
But Shaquille at this kind of a price is hard to pass up on in the hope he bounces back from a surprise defeat at Haydock in September.
He can probably be excused for that considering his six straight wins including two Group 1 victories.
2.25: Sweet Memories 12/1
A few of these horses are stepping into 1m4f territory for the first time having already impressed either at 1m2f or 1m6f.
That makes it very difficult to anticipate which will be suited to the change in trip most or who will relish another go at this middle distance.
Free Wind was last seen in the Arc at Paris Longchamp but has to give a fair amount of weight away to the youngsters of the field who look the danger here.
Time Lock is another with great form over this trip and does suit the expected soft going with rain across the week. But she too, has to give weight away - she does look to have Sweet Memories and Running Lion beat on that Newmarket form.
Though it's possible Sweet Memories could well improve especially on softer ground, with a different set of tactics, and Hollie Doyle does love a big win at Ascot.
Though a big signal could be who Ryan Moore decides to get the ride on for Aidan O'Brien who has a few potential runners here. Jackie Oh would be a second pick of the race based on her prominent finishes in the last two.
3.05: Paddington 15/8 & Nashwa 7/1 each-way
The O'Brien-trained horse was unbeaten in seven runs until last time out when finishing just third of four runners in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York
He didn't finish far off Mostahdaf and Nashwa but it was more surprising given the fact he was carrying 4lb less than second place and 7lb less than Mostahdaf, due to age and gender.
There could be a few reasons for that performance, he's always looked suited to 1m2f but perhaps he is just a solid one miler and more consistent in that regard around there.
He returns to that distance here for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in what is really a huge price considering if he'd gone anywhere nearer he could be close to evens.
Nashwa has found herself in incredible form this season and has really been unlucky in many respects that she has only won once, as she's just been beaten by the likes of Auguste Rodin and Al Husn by small margins.
They actually will be the same weight for this clash and she looks a great choice each-way at 7/1.
3.45: King Of Steel 9/2
Nashwa could end up going for this middle distance instead, focusing on her 1m2f - but either will suit and give her a big chance.
She won over her only 1m start at Newmarket by five lengths despite carrying 9lb extra than a few of her rivals.
King Of Steel had the chance to win over 1m4f here in July but could only finish third a few lengths off of Hukum.
He's suited to this trip too though and recently came just a length away when placinng fourth behind Auguste Rodin, Luxembourg and Nashwa at Leopardstown last time out.
He gave himself a much better chance in that race than he did at Ascot when he ran too keen, and could easily reverse the placings. Now has Dettori on board too which also makes it an even more intriguing battle
All odds correct at time of writing
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