2026 Champions Day Ascot Preview & Tips

We had a stellar weekend last week. Lola De Valence and Alphonse Le Grande won at 66s and 25s respectively and we also landed a couple of nice places at tasty odds. Hopefully Dave Stevos can keep the good form going, his 2026 Champions Day Ascot preview and tips are below.

12.55 – Champions Day 2yo Conditions Stakes (Class 2)

A new addition to the Champions Day menu but for me, a not very appetising one. I generally struggle in these types of races but one day our luck will change and maybe, just maybe, today could be the day.

The one I have come down on at around 25/1 is the Hugo Palmer trained Adaay Of Scarlet. By Mehmas, he ran some cracking races in defeat in G2 company earlier this season, including a close second in the Coventry Stakes here back in June.

He has admittedly failed to fire on his last three starts, but he has been gelded and that may well sharpen him up mentally and keep his mind on the job. He was only 1.25l behind Inner City Blues in a Newmarket G2 back in July and if he can rediscover that level of form, Adaay Of Scarlet is capable of sneaking into the frame here at odds of 25/1.

2026 Champions Day Ascot Tip: Adaay Of Scarlett e/w @ 25/1

1.30 – British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 1)

One of the more interesting sideshows this weekend is the battle for top trainer between Aidan O’Brien and Andrew Balding. Ballydoyle’s star stayer Scandinavia has been left at home after his Longchamp defeat to Caballo De Mar (who is turned out again here), and O’Brien relies on Queenstown (the choice of Ryan Moore) and Amelia Earhart, who will be ridden by Colin Keane.

However, I think Balding might be able to gain some ground in the top trainer race with his son of Masar, Mount Atlas. This 5yo has made good strides this season and after a string of consistent efforts, he gained his first win of the year when landing a York G3 in July (1mf, gd-fm).

On his next start, again at York in a G2 on his first try over 16.5f (gd-sft), he raced a bit keenly early and that probably proved costly in the end as he finished a 3.25l third behind Al Nayyir. Interestingly, 3.5l behind him in fourth that day was Caballa De Mar, the 5/2 fav here.

Balding has given his charge a 57 day break since that latest York run and he returns at a track at which he has won two of his three starts. If PJ McDonald can get him to settle better than he did at York I think he could be a big player here and with odds of 33/1 on offer, Mount Atlas gets the each way vote.

2026 Champions Day Ascot Tip: Mount Atlas e/w @ 33/1

2.05 – British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1)

We’ve had plenty of success in this race over the years. Donjuan Triumphant winning at 33s, Brando placed at 80s and poor old Run To Freedom placed at 150s. Unfortunately, with the ground on the quick side this year, a shock is probably less likely.

Most of the outsiders here would appeal more if the ground was a bit softer. The headcase Jasour has the ability to run well but his tendency to pull hard early usually costs him dearly. The one that might have a bit of a chance of reaching the frame at a big price is the Irish raider Power Blue.

By Space Blues, it seems as though Robson De Aguiar was determined to get this colt to stay 1m this season. He did manage to win a Curragh G3 over 7f and he was a decent fourth in the Irish 2000 Guineas but in my opinion, this horse is best as a sprinter.

Back To 6F

De Aguiar finally bit the bullet and dropped his charge back to 6f at the Curragh last time but he came up short behind Soul Love. However, heavy ground may not have suited him and I expect to see a much bolder showing on this sounder surface.

Power Blue ran a cracker in the Coventry over C&D last year on quick ground and while he probably won’t be good enough to win this, I can see him outrunning his odds of 66/1. At that price, he has to be worth throwing a few pennies at each way.

2026 Champions Day Ascot Tip: Power Blue e/w @ 66/1 (4 places)

2.40 – British Champion Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1)

We almost landed a big win with Sparan Nua at York in August when she just failed to reel in Kalpana. On her next start at Longchamp just over two weeks later she was sent off the 5-2 fav but ran flat and I think that run may have just come too soon. She had three runs in the space of a month and Jim Bolger has now freshened her up, so I expect to see a much better performance here.

Since she won her maiden on debut at Naas I’ve been convinced this daughter of Dawn Approach was a top class filly. That run at York confirmed it and in her defence, she probably should have gone far closer in the Irish Guineas too.

This filly seems to act on all ground and I don’t think there’s any doubt that she is capable of winning a G1. Given that Kalpana is 5/4 here, Sparan Nua looks well overpriced at odds of 10/1 and she has to be worth chancing each way.

2026 Champions Day Ascot Tip: Sparan Nua e/w @ 10/1 (4 places)

3.20 – Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1)

It hasn’t been a season to remember for our old pal Docklands but I think he might be able to bounce back from a sequence of below par runs here. He loves this place and he won the Queen Anne for us here at 25-1 back in 2025.

His best run this term came when he finished a close third in the Champions Mile, a G1 at Sha Tin, back in April and my theory is that the trip to the Far East may have left a bit of a mark on him. He was below his best back here on his next two starts in June and July and he raced far too keenly when last seen at Glorious Goodwood.

Harry Eustace has given his son of Massaat a nice break since that run and the booking of Billy Loughnane and the addition of cheekpieces offer hope that he might settle better this time. Another cause for optimism are his form figures of 23221 after breaks of 78 days or more. At odds of 18/1, Docklands is the e/w selection.

2026 Champions Day Ascot Tip: Docklands e/w @ 18/1 (4 places) NB

4.00 – Champion Stakes (Group 1)

Just six runners here and bar the Godolphin pacemaker, they are all single figure odds. Ombudsman is the fav but he was beaten in this last year when 13-8 by Calandagan and it would be no surprise to see a similar result again.

Bay City Roller has to be feared after his magnificent run in the Arc, as does last year’s third Almaqam who is a classy performer on his day. I’m happy to just watch and see what happens here, hopefully it’s a cracking renewal.

2026 Champions Day Ascot Tip: No Bet

4.35 – Balmoral Handicap (Class 2)

The one that looks most overpriced in this ultra competitive handicap is the Richard Hannon trained Classic. Pat Dobbs will take the ride on this consistent son of Dubawi and given his form in big field handicaps this season, including at this venue, 20/1 looks a very generous price.

Bar a blip at Sandown in July, when he was a shade short of room, this 6yo has held his form very well since winning off 5lb lower at Newbury back in May. He was drawn on the wrong side in the Hunt Cup here in June and ran a fine race to finish fifth of 20 on his side, just 4.25l behind the winner Rogue Diplomat.

On his last two starts at Goodwood and back here, he has been beaten 1.25l and 1.75l and while he probably isn’t the best handicapped horse in this race, he is definitely capable of running into the money off his current mark. If things drop right, he might even win. So, at odds of 20/1, Classic is the e/w selection.

2026 Champions Day Ascot Tip: Classic e/w @ 20/1 (5 places) NAP

-DaveStevos