British Champions Day returns to Ascot on Saturday 18 October, closing the flat season with a record £4.35 million in prize money and a card featuring five Group 1 races. Last year brought shocks, drama and brilliance. This year promises the same and perhaps even more.
Seven high-class races will crown champions and create new storylines, and you may already be debating which horses can handle the pressure and the unpredictable October ground. For the inside track, betting.bet’s daily betting tips will be updated regularly in the build-up, helping you track ground changes, market moves and key declarations as the big day approaches. For official information on tickets and race details, you can also visit Ascot’s official site.
Champion Stakes: Anmaat, Calandagan and a New Rival
The Champion Stakes is again the headline act. In 2024, Anmaat stunned the field at 40-1, his late surge past Calandagan creating one of the biggest shocks in the race’s history. Jim Crowley’s perfectly timed ride and Anmaat’s strong finish proved that adaptability and grit are often the deciding factors at Ascot.
Calandagan, who endured traffic problems before finishing second, has been waiting twelve months for redemption. His smooth cruising style and finishing power make him a danger again. This season, though, there’s a new name to watch. Ombudsman has been irresistible all summer, claiming the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and following it up with a dominant display in the Juddmonte International at York.
If he can reproduce that form, the Champion Stakes could become his showcase, though Anmaat’s proven ability on soft ground and Calandagan’s consistency ensure this renewal is shaping up as one of the best in years.
Long Distance Cup: Hamish Steps into the Void
The retirement of Kyprios has left the staying division wide open, and the Long Distance Cup will crown a new king over Ascot’s two demanding miles. Hamish has stepped forward this season, returning with a strong win in the Listed Tapster Stakes at Goodwood and being kept fresh for a campaign built around the right ground. A proven performer on soft going, he has shown the tactical patience and staying power that this race demands, settling comfortably and digging deep when it matters most.
At nine years old, Hamish is as sharp as ever, a credit to the patience of the Haggas yard. He has the stamina to handle Ascot’s gruelling test and the change of gears needed to take advantage of any opening in the straight. With conditions likely to suit, he looks ready to cement his status as Britain’s leading stayer.
QEII Stakes: Field of Gold Leads the Charge
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is one of the season’s great mile contests, and with Charyn retired, the crown is there to be claimed. Field of Gold is the one punters are watching. He looked a class apart when dominating the Irish 2,000 Guineas in the spring and then confirmed his quality with a sharp, decisive win in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
A setback kept him out of the Juddmonte International, but his connections are confident Ascot is where he can deliver another big performance. The stiff mile and testing ground in October are likely to play to his strengths. His proven Group 1 form and adaptability make him a compelling candidate to take control of a division in search of a new standard-bearer.
Sprint Stakes: Lazzat Brings Speed and Class
The Sprint Stakes is always unpredictable, and last year was no exception as Kind Of Blue claimed a breakthrough victory. This year, the spotlight is on Lazzat. The French-trained flyer lit up Royal Ascot with a dazzling win in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, showing blistering pace and the tactical awareness needed to win at the highest level.
Those qualities translate perfectly to Ascot’s straight six furlongs, but history shows that this race rarely follows the script. The pace setup, draw and ground conditions will all be crucial, and punters will be watching closely to see if Lazzat can convert his summer form into Champions Day glory.
Fillies & Mares Stakes: Kalpana Sets the Standard
Kalpana, last year’s winner, is again the one to beat in the Fillies & Mares Stakes. Her 2024 performance was a masterclass in patience and timing, conserving energy early before kicking clear in the closing stages. Ascot’s mile-and-a-half trip rewards that kind of balance, especially when the ground turns soft and race tactics come to the fore.
Minnie Hauk is another serious contender this season. Her consistency through the summer, combined with the ability to accelerate when it counts, makes her a real danger if she gets the right conditions. This race will be about reading the ground and assessing how the field shapes up, but Kalpana’s proven course form makes her the one they will have to beat.
What to expect in 2025
This year’s card is loaded with storylines. Anmaat and Calandagan will renew their rivalry in the Champion Stakes, while Ombudsman brings a new dimension to the middle-distance division. Hamish is the horse to beat in the Long Distance Cup, Field of Gold heads the QEII market and Lazzat brings serious speed to the Sprint Stakes. There’s something to read into every race, and you’ll notice the markets moving right up until the stalls open at Ascot.
