Greg Wood’s report from AscotChampions Day pain for puntersAll eyes were on the Champions Stakes ahead of Champions Day at Ascot and while Calandagan was a worthy winner and may have put up the Flat racing performance of the season it was the big-priced winners on the day who made the headlines with Powerful Glory, at 200-1, and Cicero’s Gift, at 100-1, pulling off almighty shocks on a day when the racegoers flocked to the track to supposedly crown “champions”,With the ground riding fast after a prolonged dry spell this was not what was supposed to be expected,However, those sorts of results can come at the end of a long season and is partly the reason why Champions Day doesn’t always prove to be the day when the best come to the fore,Good night for now – we’ll be back with a live blog on Boxing Day as the focus now turns to jump racing,1 Crown Of Oaks 5/1 2 Ebt’s Guard 10/1 3 Holloway Boy 16/1 4 Shout 6/14.

40 BALMORAL HANDICAP bettingNative Warrior 9/2Crown of Oaks 6/1Shout 7/1Cerulean Bay 9/1Ebts Guard 10/1Arisaig 14/1Fifth Column 14/1Tribal Chief 16/1Holloway Bay 16/1Oliver Show 20/1Great Acclaim 22/1Bopedro 22/1Godwinson 22/125/1 BAR – 20 RunnersFull betting here via Oddschecker4.40 BALMORAL HANDICAP previewA fiendishly trappy handicap to conclude the card, and a race that has often piled on the pain for losing punters hoping to get out of trouble with winners at 80-1, 25-1 and 14-1 in the last three seasons.Simon and Ed Crisford’s Shout, a ready winner over this track and trip in early September, has been well supported today and is likely to set off as favourite at around 6-1, but he is 9lb higher in the weights for today’s race and there are plenty of very credible alternativese, including Crown Of Oaks, from the William Haggas stable, and Native Warrior, another recent winner on the straight course in a seven-furlong handicap two weeks ago.I thought the 25-1 about Oliver Show was a fair price when I went through the race on Friday and it seems there were at least a few punters who agreed with me, as George Boughey’s Lincoln runner-up is now down to around 12-1.He is a quirky type but definitely has the talent to win this if he is in the mood and Billy Loughnane could be just the jockey to deliver him in the nick of time.

SELECTION: OLIVER SHOWCalandagan was all class to stride to a smart success in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.The 15-8 French raider, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and owned by the Aga Khan Studs, was ridden by Mickael Barzalona in a quality field of 11.John and Thady Gosden’s Ombudsman was the 13-8 favourite and the two horses were at the fore in the home straight, but it was Calandagan who held the upper hand to prevail by two and a quarter lengths, upgrading last year’s second place behind Anmaat.Ombudsman was second with 28-1 shot Almaqam a further length and three-quarters back in third.Barzalona said afterwards: “It was a tough race but when he found his action and he was ready to go I let him go.

I’m very proud to be part of the team.”1 Calandagan 15/8 2 Ombudsman 13/8 fav 3 Almaqam28/1🏆🇬🇧 WHAT A RACE!🌟 CALANDAGAN STRIKES GOLD IN THE QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPION STAKES AT @ASCOT!@mickaelbarzalon | @GraffardRacing | @AgaKhanStudspic.twitter.com/yEyKVxDCcP4.05 CHAMPION STAKESAnd they’re off … Fox Legacy leads early but Mount Kilimanjaro then takes it up … Ombudsman is last at halfway … they are on the home turn … Almaqam makes ground … Ombudsman and Calandagan fight it out and Calandagan bravely fights off his foe to win!4.

05 CHAMPION STAKES bettingOmbudsman 6/4Calandagan 2/1Delacroix 9/2Economics 16/1Almeric 20/1Almaqam 25/1First Look 40/1Fox Legacy 40/1Devils Advocate 66/1Prague 100/1Mount Kilimanjaro 100/1Full betting via Oddschecker here4.05 CHAMPION STAKES previewThere are plenty of sub-plots and potential storylines in the 15th running of the Champion Stakes since its switch from Newmarket to Ascot, from the seasonal head-to-head between Ombudsman and Delacroix to Francis-Henri Graffard’s chance to cap a remarkable season both in France and elsewhere, but form is the key factor in finding the winner and plenty of races to ponder before the field goes to post.Delacroix landed the first blow in his match-up with Ombudsman in the Eclipse at Sandown in July, but Ombudsman turned the tables in style – once William Buick realised that the pacemaker was getting away, at any rate – in the International Stakes at York the following month.Calandagan, meanwhile, has recorded both his Group One wins at a mile-and-a-half but has an exceptional turn of foot and went down only narrowly in this race last year.Economics has not run since finishing down the field 12 months ago but has an obvious chance on his winning form in the Irish Champion Stakes in September 2024, while Andrew Balding fields an interesting under-the-radar outsider in the three-year-old Almeric, who will be making just the fifth start of his career today after an impressive success in the Listed Doonside Cup last time out.

Do not forget to give Almaqam a once-over too: Ed Walker’s colt was the first horse to finish in front of Ombudsman when he took the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May and he too is lightly-raced for his age and within striking distance of the market leaders on ratings,SELECTION: OMBUDSMANCicero’s Gift was another shock winner on British Champions Day at Ascot with a 100-1 strike in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes,Trained by Charlie Hills and ridden by Jason Watson, the bay was an outsider in a field of 16 with a draw of stall one,From there he hugged the rail throughout and began to make real progress from the two-furlong marker, hitting the front with a furlong left to run and holding off all challengers as The Lion In Winter was second and Alakazi was third,Cicero’s Gift’s surprise win followed on from 200-1 shot Powerful Glory’s triumph in the British Champions Sprint earlier in the afternoon.

Watson, who was in tears on his returns to Group One-winning glory after a long absence from the top table, stated: “He came into this so well.My mum and dad have been great supporters and I’ve been grafting for a long time to get back into the position I know I’m capable of.My mum says you can only win it if you’re in it!”Victorious trainer Hills said: “That’s amazing.I am so pleased for Jason and the owners have been brilliant.We were hoping for some rain as he’s not been the soundest of horses.

”1 Cicero’s Gift 100/1 2 The Lion In Winter 12/1 3 Alakazi 22/1ANOTHER STUNNING RESULT!Cicero’s Gift (100/1) strikes gold in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes for @_JasonWatson and @cbhills… pic.twitter.com/Yr99dMahnv3.25 QUEEN ELIZABETH II STAKESAnd they’re off … Dancing Gemini and Fallen Angel are up with the leaders in the early stages … Marvelman now goes for home … Field Of Gold has a lot to do … Cicero’s Gift leads and wins for another major shock on Champions Day! And that winner returns at 100-1!!3.25 QUEEN ELIZABETH II STAKES bettingField of Gold 7/4Rosallion 4/1Never So Brave 15/2Fallen Angel 9/1Carl Spackler 12/1The Lion In Winter 12/1Docklands 14/1Facteur Cheval 25/1Tamfana 40/1Alakazi 40/1Dancing Gemini 40/150/1 BAR – 16 RunnersFull betting here via oddschecker3.

25 QUEEN ELIZABETH II STAKES preview A big welcome back to Field Of Gold, who seemed certain to be one of the big stars of the summer when he ran out an emphatic winner of the St James’s Palace Stakes on the round course at the Royal meeting in June.He then let his supporters down in no uncertain terms when only fourth, at odds of 1-3, in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, a race that was won by his pacemaker, Qirat, at 150-1.Any assessment of today’s Group One contest revolves around the question of which Field Of Gold will turn up, and while the noises coming out of his stable are very positive, he was a real let-down last time out and had his first race of the season as long ago as mid-April, so while many punters will look at his current price of around 2-1 and think that it’s a steal, my personal inclination is to look elsewhere.Rosallion has a string of good efforts in Group Ones to his name so far this season, including close seconds in the Queen Anne over this track and trip at the Royal meeting behind Docklands, who is also in today’s field, but his habit of finding one or two too good is increasingly irksome.Never So Brave, a big improver throughout the season after joining Andrew Balding following Sir Michael Stoute’s retirement, is a big runner aftergetting off the mark at Group One level at York last time, but personal preference is for the recent Group One-winning form of Karl Burke’s Fallen Angel.

The Sun Chariot Stakes often passes almost unnoticed thanks to its scheduling on the Saturday of Arc weekend in Paris, but Fallen Angel posted arguably her best performance of the year in this year’s renewal a fortnight ago,It was her fifth win at Group One level and while all five have come in races restricted to fillies and mares, she has looked much improved since finishing sixth of eight on her reappearance in the Lockinge at Newbury,SELECTION: FALLEN ANGEL1 Kalpana 11/8 fav 2 Estrange 6/1 3 Quisisana 6/12,45 CHAMPIONS FILLIES & MARES STAKES And they’re off … Ballet Slippers has an early lead with favourite Kalpana second … Quisisana is third and Wemightakedlongway just behind … Bedtime Story is being held up … Estrange is in midfield … on the turn for home now … Kalpana goes for home … and kicks clear … and it’s all over … an easy winner!2,45 CHAMPIONS FILLIES & MARES STAKES bettingKalpana 7/4Estrange 7/1Quisisana 8/1Waardah 8/1One Look 9/1Danielle 11/1Wemighttakedlongway 12/1Bedtime Story 14/1Latakia 25/1Ballet Slippers 66/1Full betting vis Oddschecker hereBest backed:Kalpana 11/4 -> 9/52.

45 CHAMPIONS FILLIES & MARES STAKES previewThere’s little doubt that Andrew Balding’s Kalpana will start favourite for this, despite having failed to register a win in five attempts this season.Her one-length second to Calandagan in the King George in July over this track and trip is the best individual piece of form on offer and she also ran an eye-catching race to finish a seven-length seventh in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp 13 days ago.Quisisana, another runner from the Francis-Henri Graffard stable, was also in the Arc field, finishing another couple of lengths behind Kalpana after pulling hard in the early stages, but she will be a live contender here if she can settle a little better.David O’Meara’s Estrange, the Lancashire Oaks winner in July and runner-up behind the top-class Minnie Hauk in the Yorkshire Oaks the following month, was a late absentee from the Arc but will be a serious contender if she is over whatever ailed her beforehand, while Paddy Twomey’s One Look is another runner having a quick turnaround after the Arc meeting, where she ran third in the 10-furlong Prix de l’Opera.Punters looking for a runner coming in fresh, meanwhile, may well alight on Owen Burrows’s Waardah, a Group Two winner at Glorious Goodwood in early August who is having her first start since here.

SELECTION: WAARDAHHats off to the Sheffield Star tipster, Fortunatus, who not only tipped that winner but made the horse his best bet of the day! In racing parlance that selection was his nap,Indeed that result means he has won the Racing Post Naps Competition on the final day,Now that’s tipping,Game over in the @RacingPost naps table,.

.pic.twitter.com/KinbyrFcEXExtraordinary scenes at Ascot – on the biggest day of the Flat racing season Powerful Glory has won the British Champion Sprint Stakes at the astonishing odds of 200-1.He is now officially the biggest-priced winner of a top-flight race in Europe.

Richard Fahey’s three-year-old was ridden by Jamie Spencer and completely overlooked in the market with as much as 20lb to find on the ratings with his rivals in the Group One.Lazzat was the 2-1 favourite and looked to be charging for home under James Doyle, but Powerful Glory was making up a huge amount of ground behind him and got his head in front on the line to become the longest-priced Group One winner in Britain since the current grading system was established.Winning rider Spencer said: “I can’t believe it.You never know in this game – it’s a fantastic sport and this means a lot.I took the pensioner’s route.

”Meanwhile, Fahey told Racing TV: “We always thought he was a nice horse- he had a little operation [after he made a bad breathing noise follwing his first run].No one thought he would win and he looked a bit hairy in the ring beforehand.I’ve been telling the owner that he’s a decent horse and that was only the fifth run of his life.I’m delighted, and for the owner too!”Say hello to the Qipco British Champion Sprint hero, Powerful Glory! 🏆 pic.twitter.

com/dCOxYSPOXO1 Powerful Glory 200/1 2 Lazzat 2/1 fav 3 Quinault 66/12.05 CHAMPIONS SPRINT STAKESAnd they’re off … this will be over pretty fast going just six furlongs up the straight...Big Mojo gets a fast start as does Art Power … Ten Bob Tony is just behind the leaders … Lazzat takes the lead … and kicks clear but Powerful Glory nabs him on the line! That is going to be a huge price … it’s 200-1!!!!Time for the second race suggesting it is nearer good to firm than good for the races up the straight …A bit more than fractionally, on the straight course at least, judged on 2yo time of just over 73.

0s2,05 CHAMPIONS SPRINT STAKES bettingLazzat 5/2Kind of Blue 7/1Flora of Bermuda 7/1Big Mojo 17/2Montassib 9/1Inisherin 11/1Rayevka 14/1King Cuan 14/1Witness Stand 22/1Ten Bob Tony 25/1BAR 28/1 – 19 RunnersFull betting via Oddschecker hereBest backed: Lazzat 4/1 -> 5/2Flora of Bermuda 10/1 -> 7/12,05 CHAMPIONS SPRINT STAKES 6fSix of the last eight winners of this Group One sprint have set off at double-figure odds while there has been just one successful favourite in the last decade, so it is probably a race where punters should tread with a little care,Lazzat, though, will remain a popular pick with many after his course-and-distance win at the Royal meeting in June, and while he has failed to add to his Group One tally in two subsequent starts, he was not beaten far in the Maurice du Gheet at Deauville and had a tricky draw when fifth in the Sprint Cup at Haydock last time,Big Mojo, the Sprint Cup winner, is next in on the ratings, while Kind Of Blue, last year’s 10-1 winner, is a similar price for a repeat.

Further down the list, Montassib needs careful consideration as he is lightly-raced for a seven-year-old and a genuine Group One performer at his best, although he would probably prefer the softer ground that generally prevails at this meeting.Flora Of Bermuda has yet to win a Group One in six attempts but has peppered the target – her form figures at this level are 453303 with the latest placing coming in the Sprint Cup – while Francis Henri-Graffard’s filly Rayevka remains lightly-raced and her trainer’s record with his runners in Britain this year speaks for itself.SELECTION: BIG MOJOJohn Gosden 1️⃣-1️⃣ Aidan O'Brien Aidan O'Brien bites back as Mission Central wins the inaugural Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes! ⭐️ https://t.co/PaT8iP47Lh pic.twitter.

com/130JY8T7uT1 Mission Central (C Soumillon) 5-1 2 Ardisia (Tom Marquand) 18-1 3 Words Of Truth (W Buick) 11-10 Fav1.30 CHAMPIONS DAY TWO-YEAR-OLD CONDITIONS STAKESAnd they’re off … this will be quick … Siren Suit is VERY slowly away … Words Of Truth is close to the leaders … Egoli is there … Words Of Truth is challenging now … but Mission Central kicks clear up the middle of the track and beats Ardisia.That means it’s John Gosden 1 Aidan O’Brien 1 after the first two races.1.30 CHAMPIONS DAY TWO-YEAR-OLD CONDITIONS STAKES bettingWords of Truth 11/8Division 7/2Mission Central 5/1Siren Suit 10/1Sir Albert 12/1Ardisia 14/1Gentle George 25/1Egoli 28/1Super Soldier 50/1Watcha Snoop 66/1Slay Queen 125/1Full betting via Oddschecker here55% of bets today have backed Words of Truth or Division1.

30 CHAMPIONS DAY TWO-YEAR-OLD CONDITIONS STAKES previewThere is no Group-race status (as yet) for the new juvenile race on the Champions Day card, but a £250k pot has attracted a fair field, in terms of numbers at least.There is not a huge amount of strength in depth, however, and Words Of Truth, the Mill Reef Stakes winner, has 9lb in hand of the field according to Timeform’s assessment.Charlie Appleby’s colt will set off at around 6-4 to complete a four-timer, with Division, a winner at York last weekend and also successful in his last three starts, next in the list at around 7-2.William Haggas’s colt was a cosy winner on the Knavesmire but that was only a Listed contest and he has the best part of a stone to find with Words Of Truth on the bare form.Mission Central is the only runner from the Aidan O’Brien stable after the scratching of Kansas, but needs to bounce back from a below-par run when favourite for the Flying Childers at Doncaster last month, while John & Thady Gosden’s well-bred Siren Suit also has a squeak if his first win in three attempts, at Kempton 10 days ago, sees him take another step forward.

SELECTION: WORDS OF TRUTHWell the time for the first race suggest this is going to be quick ground – even more so than,the ‘Good’ description suggests,One or two pundits think the going may be bordering on ‘Good to Firm’,I make that a race record time for the Long Distance Cup since switching to Ascot in 2011, the majority of previous editions having been on ground softer than good,Fractionally on the quick side of good would be my best guess after just one race.

1 Trawlerman 5/6 fav 2 Sweet William 5/2 3 Al Qareem 7/112.55pm CHAMPIONS LONG DISTANCE CUPAnd they’re off … Al Qareem and Trawlerman lead the way early – but they have a circuit to go yet! Al Qareem now takes it up as they have 10 furlongs to go … Sweet William is at the back but there’s a long way to go...Stay True being pushed along … Trawlerman moves up to challenge on the home turn … Trawlerman goes clear and wins from Sweet William, who makes ground late.

🏆 "TRAWLERMAN - HE IS TREMENDOUS!"🔵 The Gold Cup hero leads home his stablemate Sweet William to regain the (Group 1) British Champions Long Distance Cup at @Ascot!@godolphin | @WilliamBuickX | @thadygosdenpic,twitter,com/FacnDLOlVtAs Greg Wood pointed out in his preview piece for the Champion Stakes today “there is even a little needle to add further spice, after Aidan O’Brien, the trainer of Delacroix, suggested to a media briefing on Thursday that John Gosden, who trains Ombudsman, the favourite, ‘can whinge a little bit after races, whether he wins or he loses’,Gosden just had his say on ITV Racing … “It seems like I’ve touched a nerve with Aidan,” the Newmarket trainer said,“He’s getting a little bit irked.

”Ooooooh it’s getting more spicy!"I think I might have touched a nerve...He's getting a little bit irked, isn't he?" 👀John Gosden on his rivalry with Aidan O'Brien#ITVRacing | #ChampionsDay | @MCYeeehaaa pic.twitter