QIPCO British Champions Day Champion Stakes: Last 5 Winners

The richest race of QIPCO British Champions Day will return to Ascot Racecourse this weekend, and here we look at the last five winners.

The return of the much anticipated QIPCO British Champions Day to the iconic and historic Ascot Racecourse is edging ever closer, with the enthralling day of racing set to take place on Saturday 19th October 2024.

Over the course of the day, there will be a total of no less than 6 races, which are as follows: the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup (13:20), the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (13:55), the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (14:35), the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (15:15), the QIPCO Champion Stakes (15:55), and finally the Balmoral Handicap (16:35).

Amongst the highest profile races on the day is the Champion Stakes, with the prize money on offer for the winner standing at £1.3 million – the most of any race on Champions Day this year.

The record for the most successful horse of all time in the Champion Stakes is currently Tristan, who emerged victorious three times in the 1880s, doing so in 1882, 1883, and 1884.

In terms of jockeys, two currently hold the joint record for the most wins in this race across their respective careers to date with 6 – Danny Maher and Charlie Elliott. Starting with Maher, his wins came with Osboch (1901), Pretty Polly (1905), Polymelus (1906), Llangwm (1908), Bayardo (1909), and Lemberg (1910).

As for Elliott, his victories in this highly prestigious race came with Ellangowan (1923), Asterus (1927), Goyescas (1931), Djeddah (1949), and Dynamiter (1951, 1952).

Alec Taylor Jr was a trainer who had a lot of success in the Champion Stakes, winning it 8 times over the course of his career in the sport. Sceptre (1903), Bayardo (1909), Lemberg (1910, 1911), Gay Crusader (1917), My Dear (1918), Buchan (1919), and Picaroon (1925).

Here, we are going to take a look back at the five most recent winners of the highly prestigious Champion Stakes on British Champions Day.

Magical (2019)

Highlights (via At The Races on YouTube):

We begin with Magical’s win in the 2019 Champion Stakes at Ascot, it was yet another win at this racecourse for acclaimed Trainer Aidan O’Brien, with the winning jockey that day being Donnacha O’Brien. This was O’Brien’s first victory in the Champion Stakes on British Champions Day.

Magical was the pre-race favourite on that day, managing to fend off some stern competition from runner-up Addeybb and Deirdre, who came in third place overall.

Addeybb (2020)

Highlights (via Ascot Racecourse on YouTube):

After finishing as runner-up the year before with Addeybb, Trainer William Haggas was extra determined for the horse come out on top in the 2020 edition of the Champion Stakes at Ascot on British Champions Day.

It was glory for Addeybb, with Tom Marquand on board, who secured a great win after fending off Skalleti in second place quite comfortably in the end, whilst 2019 winner and pre-race favourite for 2020’s race Magical had to settle for a third place finish overall in the end.

Sealiway (2021)

Highlights (via At The Races on YouTube):

It was Sealiway who followed in the footsteps of Magical and Addeybb in winning the Champion Stakes on British Champions Day, doing so back in 2021. Some pressure was felt on the leader towards the end from Dubai Honour, who in the end had to settle for a second place finish, whilst Mac Swiney came in third place. Pre-race favourite Mishriff came outside of the top three in fourth overall.

This was a first ever victory in this race for both Jockey Mickael Barzalona and Trainer Cedric Rossi.

Bay Bridge (2022)

Highlights (via Racing TV on YouTube):

Rewinding to the Champion Stakes race at Ascot from 2022, it was Bay Bridge who came out on top in this highly prestigious race that year. It was an intense race, with this tight victory coming just ahead of runner-up Adayar, with My Prospero settling for a third place finish overall.

Pre-race favourite Baaeed did not quite live up to expectations before this edition of the Champion Stakes, coming in fourth.

King of Steel (2023)

Highlights (via ITV Racing on YouTube):

The most recent winner of the prestigious Champion Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse is King of Steel, with the expectations with being the pre-race favourite very much being met. Iconic Jockey Frankie Dettori rode King Of Steel to victory, which was the Italian’s third career win in this race after having done so with Cracksman in two consecutive years in 2017 and 2018.

The runner-up from the 2023 race was Oisin Murphy’s Via Sistina, whilst it was 2021 Winner Mikael Barzalona on board Horizon Dore who came third.

Excitement and anticipation are building rapidly not only ahead of the return of the Champion Stakes, but also the 2024 renewal of the QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse as a whole. The day will be bringing with it some enthralling racing, together with a simply sensational atmosphere at one of the country’s most revered racecourses.

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