The final curtain comes down on the 2026 flat season with the traditional Group 1 bonanza that is Ascot Champions Day for this Saturday. We check out best Ascot Champions Day bets and excellent value outsiders through our partner firms Bet365, William Hill, Betfred, Bet Victor and Boylesports. We concentrate on five ITV televised races to offer an enticing accumulator bet.
Last year saw some whooping priced winners with 100/1 and 200/1 shots being landed! This is unlikely to occur again but some races have seen some big priced winners regularly popping up down the years.
1330 Ascot: British Champions Long Distance Cup
The Aiden O’Brien pairing of five time winner Scandinavia and the unpredictable Jan Brueghel will clearly dominate betting proceedings, however, the value may come from impressive recent winner Gregory, the Gosden trained six year old looked like he had plenty to spare when he cruised home in a 2 mile listed race at Newmarket a few weeks ago and suggests there is plenty more to offer.
He has been lightly raced and appears to be thriving from a recent wind surgery operation. The horse has also been the subject of some significant ante post betting. Still some value available with Bet365 at 6/1 with Bet365, William Hill and Boylesports
SELECTION: GREGORY
14:05 Ascot: Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint Stakes
A race that has sprung some inexplicable winners down the years, last year’s renewal being no exception with the shock winner Powerful Glory coming home at a whopping 200/1. That win provided an average 25/1 SP for this race although it was still 12/1 before last year’s bizarre result.
With that in mind, it might pay to settle for an outsider again. Kind Of Blue is a previous winner from the 2024 renewal and comes to this in reasonable form after winning at Kempton recently.
He has also been well backed since then, punters latching onto the 20’s and 25s to bring him into 10/1 with William Hill.
SELECTION: KIND OF BLUE
14:40 Ascot: Qatar Racing British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes
This race on paper should be all about Kalpana who is bidding for a third consecutive victory in this race and it is difficult to see where another winner could emerge from.
Despite a slightly disappointing performance in the Arc, she comes in here in great form having beaten the exceptionally talented Calandagan in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes back in July. Best odds of 6/4 with Bet365, William Hill, Betfred, Bet Victor and Boylesports
SELECTION: KALPANA
15:20 Ascot: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
Another race that was subjected to abject shock in last year’ renewal which saw Cicero’s Gift oblige at 1001/1. There are plenty of question marks surrounding well fancied Rayif despite his Group 1 win in France back in August, whilst race favourite Talk Of New York has been consistent although has looked vulnerable when racing in Group One company.
However, fair value may emerge from the William Haggas trained More Thunder who despite looking most effective at 7 furlongs, his last run in a Group 2 one-mile contest at Doncaster was particularly encouraging in the way he won the race going away.
Needs to improve a little more for this hotter contest but looks good each way value at 12/1 with Betfred.
SELECTION: MORE THUNDER
16:00 Ascot Qatar Racing Champion Stakes
The brilliant Calandagan renews his rivalry with Ombudsman again and by all accounts should repeat past year’s result, although Ombudsman was devastating in the Prince Of Wales Stakes at the Royal Meeting and should not be discounted entirely.
Tactics will be crucial as connections will not want a repeat of the King George VI & QE II performance where the horse was held up in rear, so a more attacking strategy is more likely.
The only major blip on the horse’s form is that inexplicable flop at Epsom in the Coronation Cup where he dwelt in the stalls and possibly did not appreciate the soft going. Best odds of 9/4 with Betfred and Boylesports.
SELECTION: CALANDAGAN
16:35 Ascot Balmoral Handicap
The big handicap to round off the day is as competitive as ever. Last year’s runner up Ebt’s Guard loves Ascot and comes here off the same handicap mark. Good each way value at 16/1 with Bet365.
SELECTION: EBT’S GUARD
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