The flat campaign is well into the final furlong by the time we reach October each year, but the British season still has time for one last hurrah as Ascot stages British Champions Day. Introduced in 2011 as a final gathering of the season’s standout performers, the six-race Champions Day card contains four Group 1 contests and includes targets for the sprinters, stayers, milers, and fillies and mares.
Topping the bill is the Champion Stakes, which, with a total of £1.3m (2023) in prize money up for grabs, is one of the most valuable contests of the British racing year. First run in 1877 at Newmarket, the Champion Stakes was handed Group 1 status upon the introduction of the ratings system in 1971. 2011 saw the race leave its long-time home and take up residence at Ascot to serve as the headline act of the newly formed British Champions Day fixture. Open to all runners aged three and above, this 1m2f affair attracts the crème de la crème of the middle distance division, with the names of Brigadier Gerard (twice), Pebbles, Frankel and Cracksman (twice) all featuring on the illustrious roll of honour.
2025 - Calandagan
Calandagan produced a dominant display to win in 2025 by two and a quarter lengths. The second favourite had plenty of attention on him after his second-place finish in the race twelve months earlier, and travelled strongly behind the leaders before making his move. Ombudsman, the 13-8 favourite, was alongside him in the home straight, but Calandagan quickly established superiority. Once Mickael Barzalona asked for effort, the French four-year-old accelerated away from his rivals, leaving Ombudsman and fellow leading contender Delacroix trailing in his wake.
- 1st - Calandagan 15/8, Jockey: Mickael Barzalona, Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
- 2nd - Ombudsman 13/8f, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
- 3rd - Almaqam 28/1, Jockey: Kieran Shoemark, Trainer: Ed Walker
2024 - Anmaat
A huge upset unfolded in the 2024 race as Anmaat snatched victory after a dramatic finish at Ascot. The field remained tightly packed turning for home, and by two furlongs out there were four horses in a line leading the way. Behind the four, Jim Crowley on board Anmaat appeared completely boxed in, but a gap soon appeared, and Crowley took full advantage to sail past the traffic and pull level with Calandagan. The pair were neck and neck just before the finish, but Anmaat’s perfectly timed challenge saw him get half a length ahead when it mattered.
- 1st - Anmaat 40/1, Jockey: Jim Crowley, Trainer: Owen Burrows
- 2nd - Calandagan 6/4F, Jockey: Stephane Pasquier, Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard
- 3rd - Royal Rhyme 25/1, Jockey: Karl Burke, Trainer: Clifford Lee
2023 - King Of Steel
King Of Steel gave Frankie Dettori a spectacular final British ride by winning the Champion Stakes at Ascot. Dettori settled the favourite at the very back and stayed there patiently until asking for more down the home straight. The three-year-old began gradually picking off horses before drawing close to the leader, Via Sistina. Dettori kept his mount going, and the colt produced a powerful late surge to take the lead just in the nick of time. A fairytale victory for Dettori and a fitting sign-off for the popular jockey which sent the Ascot crowd wild.
- 1st – King Of Steel 3/1J - Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: Roger Varian
- 2nd – Via Sistina 11/2 - Jockey: Oisin Murphy, Trainer: George Boughey
- 3rd – Horizon Dore 4/1 - Jockey: Mickael Barzalona, Trainer: Patrice Cottier
2022 - Bay Bridge
Baaeed's long unbeaten record came to an end as Bay Bridge prevailed in a dramatic edition of the Champion Stakes at Ascot. Michael Stoute’s horse travelled prominently while odds-on favourite Baaeed was held towards the rear after being slow into stride. Two furlongs from home and enjoying a clear path, the crowd expected Baaeed to produce his usual finishing burst, but on this occasion it was not there. With the race now anyone’s for the taking, Adayar, Bay Bridge and My Prospero dug deep for glory, but Bay Bridge had just enough to edge the pair out.
- 1st – Bay Bridge 10/1 - Jockey: Richard Kingscote, Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
- 2nd – Adayar 6/1 - Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- 3rd – My Prospero 22/1 - Jockey: Tom Marquand, Trainer: William Haggas
2021 - Sealiway
Sealiway served up a surprise by defeating a high-class field in the Champion Stakes at Ascot. The French-trained three-year-old had finished fifth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe just 13 days earlier but showed no signs of that effort taking its toll. With under two furlongs left, there was virtually nothing to separate Adayar, Mishriff and Sealiway out in front. The first two began to weaken though, but Sealiway continued to travel strongly, allowing him to repel the strong challenge from Dubai Honour.
- 1st – Sealiway 12/1 - Jockey: Mickael Barzalona, Trainer: Cedric Rossi
- 2nd – Dubai Honour 6/1 - Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: William Haggas
- 3rd – Mac Swiney 40/1 - Jockey: Kevin Manning, Trainer: Jim Bolger
2020 - Addeybb
Revenge was the theme at Ascot as Addeybb turned the tables on Magical with a dominant victory. Having finished second to the Ballydoyle mare twelve months earlier, he was sent forward by Tom Marquand and quickly secured a prominent position. Addeybb travelled smoothly behind the pace-setting Serpentine before being asked to take control in the straight. Skalleti challenged strongly inside the final two furlongs, but Addeybb found plenty to pull clear, eventually winning with relative ease by over two lengths. The heavily backed Magical, meanwhile, was left to settle for third.
- 1st – Addeybb 9/1 - Jockey: Tom Marquand, Trainer: William Haggas
- 2nd – Skalleti 13/2 - Jockey: Pierre-Charles Boudot, Trainer: Jérôme Reynier
- 3rd – Magical 15/8F - Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
2019 - Magical
Magical fought off Addeybb to secure a determined victory in this year’s renewal. The Aidan O'Brien-trained mare had already endured a long campaign and was returning only two weeks after a solid effort in the Arc. She travelled prominently before taking the lead under Donnacha O'Brien more than a furlong from home. Addeybb stayed on strongly but could not quite reel her in as Magical held on by three-quarters of a length. The victory was the fourth Group 1 success of her career and somewhat surprisingly, O'Brien's first in the Champion Stakes.
- 1st – Magical EvsF - Jockey: Donnacha O’Brien, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd – Addeybb 5/1 - Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: William Haggas
- 3rd – Deirdre 10/1 - Jockey: Oisin Murphy, Trainer: Mitsuru Hashida
2018 - Cracksman
This Champion Stakes ended with a breathtaking display as Cracksman retained his title and signed off his career with another impressive Group 1 victory. The 5-6 favourite had not raced since Royal Ascot but travelled smoothly once settling behind the early pace. Frankie Dettori moved him into contention approaching the straight before unleashing his powerful finishing speed. Cracksman quickly opened up a huge advantage and was six lengths clear of Crystal Ocean at the line. It was a fitting finale for a colt who had established himself as one of Europe's outstanding middle-distance horses.
- 1st – Cracksman 5/6F - Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John Gosden
- 2nd – Crystal Ocean 11/4 - Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
- 3rd – Subway Dancer 66/1 - Jockey: Radek Koplik, Trainer: Zdenek Koplik
2017 - Cracksman
Cracksman announced himself as a major star by powering seven lengths clear in this edition. The 7-4 favourite was held towards the rear before Frankie Dettori began to move him forward approaching the straight. Once released, Cracksman produced an extraordinary burst of acceleration that carried him well beyond the field. He quickly established a commanding lead and was able to coast through the final stages, so much so that Dettori was able to stand up and raise his arm in celebration before the line, much to the delight of all those who had backed the winner.
- 1st – Cracksman 13/8F - Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John Gosden
- 2nd – Poet’s Word 7/1 - Jockey: Andrea Atzeni, Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
- 3rd – Highland Reel 17/2 - Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
2016 - Almanzor
Almanzor capped a superb season by beating Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Found in a high-class renewal. The 11-8 favourite suffered a slow start but Christophe Soumillon gradually pushed him up the field. The Grey Gatsby took the lead two furlongs from home, but Soumillon had Almanzor travelling strongly just behind. Found moved alongside in an attempt to challenge, but Almanzor produced another sharp turn of foot to take complete control. Special mention goes to Jack Hobbs, who stayed on resolutely to finish third, in what was his just his second start since the previous Champions Stakes.
- 1st – Almanzor 11/8F - Jockey: Christophe Soumillon, Trainer: Jean-Claude Rouget
- 2nd – Found 5/2 - Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 3rd – Jack Hobbs 7/1 - Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: John Gosden
2015
- 1st – Fascinating Rock 10/1 - Jockey: Pat Smullen, Trainer: Dermot Weld
- 2nd – Found 9/2 - Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 3rd – Jack Hobbs EvensF - Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: John Gosden
2014
- 1st – Noble Mission 7/1 - Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: Lady Cecil
- 2nd – Al Kazeem 16/1 - Jockey: George Baker, Trainer: Roger Charlton
- 3rd – Free Eagle 5/2 - Jockey: Pat Smullen, Trainer: Dermot Weld