Looking back at 2025 British Champions Day

With the 2026 QIPCO British Champions Day getting underway in October, we look back at what happened last year.

Excitement and anticipation are building ahead of the 2026 QIPCO British Champions Day, which is set to finally get underway on Saturday, 17th October 2026. Each year sees some enthralling racing take place at the iconic Ascot, and we expect this year to be no different.

Before the British Champions Day makes its long-awaited return, we thought that we would look back at the most recent Champions Day in 2025 and re-cap all of the exciting racing that took place over the course of a fantastic day. As ever, six races took place, from the British Champions Long Distance Cup to the Balmoral Handicap, which concluded the action for the day.

All seven races are as follows:

• 13:25 – British Champions Long Distance Cup.
• 14:00 – British Champions Sprint Stakes.
• 14:40 – British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes.
• 15:20 – Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
• 16:00 – Champion Stakes.
• 16:40 – Balmoral Handicap.

Action at the 2025 QIPCO British Champions Day got underway with the British Champions Long Distance Cup. Trawlerman, trained by John and Thady Gosden and ridden by William Buick, landed the 2025 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup. The seven-year-old gelding, owned by Godolphin, asserted his authority to defeat stablemate Sweet William by a length and a half, rounding off an unbeaten campaign for the season in impressive fashion.

The Sprint Stakes produced a shock result as 200/1 outsider Powerful Glory stunned the field to record one of the biggest upsets in Flat racing history. The Richard Fahey-trained runner, partnered by Jamie Spencer, surged clear of more fancied rivals including Lazzat and Quinault to land a remarkable and unexpected victory.

In the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, Kalpana confirmed her dominance in the division with a second consecutive Group 1 success in the race. The Andrew Balding-trained filly, ridden by Colin Keane, justified favouritism at 11-8 and drew away to beat Estrange by two and a half lengths, with Quisisana finishing in third.

There was another major shock in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, where Cicero’s Gift defied 100-1 odds to spring a surprise in the straight mile. Trained by Charles Hills and ridden by Jason Watson, the outsider made full use of a favourable draw in stall one to prevail in a field of 16.

The penultimate race of the day was the Champion Stakes, where Calandagan produced a polished performance to land the prestigious prize. The 15-8 French raider, trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and owned by the Aga Khan Studs, was guided to victory by Mickael Barzalona in a high-class field of 11. John and Thady Gosden’s Ombudsman went off 13-8 favourite and loomed alongside in the home straight, but Calandagan pulled clear to win by two and a quarter lengths, improving on last year’s runner-up finish behind Anmaat.

British Champions Day 2025 concluded with a surprise result in the Balmoral Handicap, as Crown Of Oaks struck at 5/1 to claim victory. Trained by William Haggas and ridden by Tom Marquand, the three-year-old made much of the running and held on gamely in the closing stages to prevail by a neck. Ebt’s Guard and Holloway Boy could not be separated for second, finishing in a dead heat behind the front-running winner.

The 2025 QIPCO British Champions Day was brilliant, and all eyes will be on Ascot when the 2026 edition of this event finally gets underway.

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