Horses set to return on British Champions Day

The 2023 QIPCO British Champions Day will see several horses return this month.

The QIPCO British Champions Day will be returning to the iconic Ascot Racecourse on Saturday 21st October 2023. A total of five races will be taking place across the day, with proceedings getting underway with the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup and ending with the QIPCO Champion Stakes in the evening.

This year’s event will be enthralling, and it will be significant for a number of reasons, chief amongst which is that this will be legendary jockey Frankie Dettori’s final ever participation in this event. This year’s British Champions Day will also see several horses return following breaks from racing.

It is not uncommon for horses to take an extended period of time away from the intense racing action on the track, and there is a history of horses tasting victory despite having a long break ahead of the race. There is perhaps not a better example of this than of Rite Of Passage in the Long Distance Cup in 2012. Rite Of Passage won despite having had a break lasting no less than 510 days.

Other examples include Farhh and Noble Mission, who both won the Champion Stakes after having a break lasting 154 and 83 days, respectively.

So it is clear that an extended break ahead of a race on Champions Day is not a hindrance, and below are horses set to return to action at Ascot after varying periods of time spent away from racing.

Cairo, trained by Aidan O’Brien, is set to take part in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, which will be the horse’s first race after a 147-day absence. His last victory was in the Killavullan Stakes on soft ground at Leopardstown in 2022. Cairo’s energy following his break may give him the edge over the rest of the field.

Alongside Cairo, Chaldean will be making his long-awaited return in the Queen Elizabeth II stakes after a break from the racetrack that lasted no less than 104 days. Chaldean should fare well on this track following his win in the Dewhurst last year. It will also be a chance for a return to form for Chaldean.

Dubai Honour will be one of several horses to participate in the QIPCO Champion Stakes later this month at Ascot. After 105 days away from racing, he will finally return to action in a race that he has done well in previously. Back in 2021, Dubai Honour came second only to Sealiway in that year’s Champion Stakes, and he will doubtless want to go one better than that in 2023.

This year’s QIPCO British Champions Sprint will see Vadream return following a 98-day absence. Trained by Charlie Fellowes, she does have a pedigree at British Champions Day with two top-six finishes. The first in 2021 saw her finish 5th, with Creative Force winning the race. As for 2022, Vadream ended that year’s race in 6th place, with Kinross winning on this occasion.

Finally, Brentford Hope has been away from jumps for 161 days and flat racing for 441 days. He is now finally set to return to flat racing in the Balmoral Handicap on Champions Day in just over a week. In recent times, Brentford Hope finished second in the Nottingham Handicap, behind only Qaysar in May 2021.

With the 2023 QIPCO British Champions Day edging ever closer, anticipation and excitement for the racing at Ascot will only increase.

There is no better way to enjoy the enthralling racing at this year’s QIPCO British Champions Day than with an Eventmasters VIP Hospitality Package. Book now to avoid disappointment.

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