Ascot Champions Day Preview: Ascot Tips, Odds, Trends and Free Bets

Saturday October the 17th 2020 will deliver another quality finale to the British Flat season at Ascot. It is the final big showdown in Europe that attracts the best horses and jockeys from across Europe and the world. The 2019 renewal was memorable for many reasons. Kew Gardens lowering the colours of Stradivarius and Magical winning a thrilling Champion Stakes. Let’s hope this year will be just as thrilling.

The ground at Ascot is currently soft, heavy in places so it will be a stamina sapping war of attrition. All eyes will be on Stradivarius who will attempt to bounce back from two defeats over an inadequate 1m 4f. He is running back over his favoured distance in the Long Distance Cup. He runs in the first race which gets away at 1.20pm and it can be watched on ITV or Sky Sports Racing.

Ascot Champions Day Races

• 13:20 – Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 2) – 1m 7f 209y (ITV)
• 13:55 – Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1) – 6f (ITV)
• 14:30 – Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1) – 1m 3f 211y (ITV)
• 15:05 – Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1) 1m (ITV)
• 15:40 – Qipco Champion Stakes (Group 1) 1m 1f 212y (ITV)
• 16:15 – Balmoral Handicap (2) 1m (ITV)

Users can watch the racing action live via bookmaker apps after placing a bet. If you don’t have an account then check out the best offers on our free bets page.

Ascot Champions Day Tips

13.20 – Long Distance Cup

Stradivarius will be all the rage for the opener and rightly so. He is the champion stayer and should win if he is anywhere near his best. However, he has had an odd campaign this term, trained for an Arc for the past month or two. He arrives here off the back of two below-par efforts and is worth taking on with Roger Varian’s FUJAIRA PRINCE. He was behind Search For A Song in the Irish St Leger. Well backed that day, he got mown down in the closing stages but the step up in trip can see him reverse the form.

13.55 – Sprint Stakes

It would be amazing to see Hollie Doyle win her first Group 1 on Saturday. She has a very solid each-way chance on the mud-loving Glen Shiel. He was no match for DREAM OF DREAMS in the Haydock Sprint Cup when last seen though. Hollie’s mount stuck on gamely and got back up for second. However, Sir Michael Stoute’s sprinter is in the form of his life and made short work of him. If is in the same vein of form here, he will win.

14.30 – Fillies & Mares Stakes

Wonderful Tonight was a heavy ground winner of the Group 1 Qatar Prix De Royallieu at Longchamp when last seen. With conditions in her favour again, she should run a big race in the hands of William Buick. She may well have to settle for second best behind the Irish raider EVEN SO. This Camelot filly was a convincing winner of the Irish Oaks in July. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th have all franked the form since and she had excuses in France last time, the ground was too quick.

15.05 – Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

The Revenant was one of only a handful of horses who relished heavy ground at Longchamp on Arc day. French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard isn’t travelling to the UK for the fun of it and his horse deserves respect. The class act in the race is PALACE PIER though and it will be a surprise if he doesn’t win. Unbeaten in five career starts, he turned over Pinatubo in the St James’ Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot before winning a French Group 1. He looks like the real deal and will love the ground.

15.40 – Champion Stakes

John Gosden’s Lorth North has been subject to a strong market move all week, being backed from 10/1 into 6/1 since Sunday. He was one place behind MAGICAL when 3rd in the Juddmonte but arrives here fresher than her. Aidan O’Brien’s star mare is still going to take all the beating in this. She won the race last year and was last seen ending Ghaiyyath’s superb winning sequence in the Irish equivalent. This mare oozes class and she can take the race.

16.15 – Balmoral Handicap

Jamie Spencer has a tremendous record when riding on the straight track at Ascot. He is a well sought after man when it comes to these valuable handicaps. As a consequence, it is highly interesting that he has been booked to ride David O’Meara’s HORTZADAR. He didn’t run a great race at York last time but won in August and September at Ripon and Goodwood. He will love the conditions and the race will be set up perfectly for a fast-finisher on a stiff track.

Users can find our selections, previews and analysis for every race of Ascot Champions Day on the website.

Ascot Champions Day Stats and Trends

13.20 – The Irish have won 6 of the last 9 renewals but only 2 favourites have won since 2010.
Verdict: Search For A Song

13.55 – 8 of the past 10 winners have been priced between 5/2 and 10/1 whilst 3 favourites have won.
Verdict: Oxted

14.30 – Six of the past nine winners have been 3yo’s and 8 of the last 10 winners have been 6/1 or shorter.
Verdict: Even So

15.05 – 5 of the last 9 favourite’s have won the race and 7 of the last 10 winners were 3yo’s.
Verdict: Palace Pier

15.40 – 5 of the last 8 favourite’s have won the race. Twice Over and Cracksman both won the race twice.
Verdict: Magical

16.15 – 4 of the 6 winners were 5yo’s and 3 of the 6 winners were priced between 12/1 and 20/1.
Verdict: Alternative Fact

Ascot Champions Day Free Bets

Get a head start with your Ascot bets by signing up to a bookmaker account and claiming a free bet. With six races on offer, bookmaker free bets can come in handy and for the day. Firms will be competing with one another for the best offers. We have selected the best offers for Ascot Champions Day below. You can also view our free bets page for all the latest offers and free bets.

It can be a daunting experience placing a bet for the first time, especially when using a bookmakers’ mobile app. If this is your first time then fear not, we have compiled a step by step guide to help you place a bet on our Ascot tips.

1. Sign up to a bookmaker

This is the best time to sign up to a bookmaker for the first time with a plethora of free bets and offers available for betting on our Ascot tips.

2. Deposit funds

Once you have created an account through one of our exclusive free bets, you’ll need to deposit into your account to start betting. Simply click on my account, and then on the deposit button. Next, choose your preferred deposit option, from Debit Card to Paypal, many online bookmakers will offer multiple deposit options. Input your credentials, be it linking your PayPal account or adding your card details. Insert the amount you wish to deposit and the fund will instantly be credited to your account.

3. Find the racecards and place your bet

Most online bookmakers list their most popular sports at the top of the page, one of which is usually Horse Racing. Many sites will also have a designated Ascot tab on the front navigation screen with either displaying all of the day’s races, sorted by racecourse and time. Alternatively, you can also quickly find a horse by clicking the links on our designated Ascot Tips page.

This will allow you to choose your preferred online bookmaker by clicking ‘bet here’ which will redirect you to the bookmaker’s website and add the Ascot tip straight to your bet slip. Once the selection is in your bet slip, simply add your desired stake and click place bet and you’re on!

4. How to Stream Ascot races

Most online bookmakers will also offer to stream all of the Ascot races, subject to meeting the minimum bet requirements, so you can watch all of the action live on your mobile or desktop device.