British Champions Day 2016: Best horses in the world go flat out at £4m Ascot finale

Horse power: Almanzor beats subsequent Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Found in the Irish Champion Stakes last month and will be hard to beat at Ascot on Saturday
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Andy Stephens13 October 2016

The Flat season ends in spectacular style at Ascot on Saturday with QIPCO British Champions Day — the richest fixture in the calendar when a glittering cast of top jockeys, trainers and horses will contest six races worth £4.2million in front of the Queen and more than 30,000 racegoers.

Standard Sport looks at the horses and the people who should grab the headlines.

THE HORSES

Almanzor The best in Europe, trained in France, will start favourite for the £1.3m QIPCO Champion Stakes after showing stunning acceleration to beat seven other Group One winners at Leopardstown last month, having previously landed the French Derby. His trainer, Jean-Claude Rouget, almost committed an act of national betrayal by opting to run him at Ascot instead of in the premier race in his own country — the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Only victory will vindicate that decision.

Found Seemed destined to be remembered as the bridesmaid as runner-up in nine Group One races but eased the pain of all those near-misses with a decisive victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 11 days ago. Aidan O’Brien says he has never trained a more “genuine” horse and if she turns the tables on Almanzor in the Champion Stakes — he finished in front of her at Leopardstown — nobody will doubt him.

Quiet Reflection Cost £44,000 but has won £626,000 for her Ontoawinner syndicate, which consists of an electrician and school dinner lady among others. They rejected two seven-figure sums for the filly this summer and subsequent wins at Royal Ascot and Haydock have justified that. Worth a fortune as a prospective broodmare and victory in the Sprint would again leave the sport’s big hitters envious.

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Limato Standing in Quiet Reflection’s way in the Sprint will be the four-year-old known at the yard where he lives as “Mr Angry”. He may have a grumpy demeanour in his box but Henry Candy’s gelding knows how to put the smiles on faces of racegoers. Limato put up an electric display when winning the July Cup at Newmarket and was an easy winner in France last time.

Ribchester Raw as a younger horse and difficult to train but Richard Fahey has weaved his magic and the colt is now the shining jewel in the mile division. He has had a busy year but I was lucky enough to see him on the gallops last week and he could not have been fresher. Oppose him at your peril in the £1.1m Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

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Minding The six-time Group One-winning filly has danced every dance for the past year or so and was dazzling when landing the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks in the first half of the season. Her versatility and toughness means she will be a threat to all in the QEII Stakes.

Order Of St George Will start hot favourite for the opening race on the card, the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup. Overcame a game of equine bumper cars when winning the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June and, for a stout stayer, ran a screamer when third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

THE PEOPLE

Jim Crowley He could probably travel around The Tube unnoticed but Crowley will be crowned champion jockey on Saturday, having this season ridden more winners (146) than Ryan Moore and Frankie Dettori put together. The 38-year-old was 33-1 to be champion at the start of the season but, through hard graft, has risen to the top.

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Frankie Dettori Twenty years after his Magnificent Seven, the charismatic Italian is still going strong at 45 and believes he has five more years of riding left in him. These days he opts for quality over quantity. His highlights this season include triumphs on Galileo Gold in the 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes. The combination will be reunited in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Ryan Moore The three-time champion jockey has few, if any, peers in the saddle and thrives on the big occasions. His record in the QIPCO British Champions Series this year is phenomenal.

Aidan O’Brien The Ballydoyle supremo is scaling heights never previously achieved. He made history by saddling the first three home in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and whatever he runs on Saturday will demand a second look. Found, Minding, Seventh Heaven and Order Of St George could be star turns.

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Sheikh Fahad al-Thani The first cousin to the Emir of the state of Qatar had apparently never seen a race until 2008 but was quickly bewitched and, via QIPCO Holding, which he runs with his five brothers, sponsors Champions Day. He owns a large string, several of which will have live chances: Simple Verse (Fillies & Mares Stakes) and Lightning Spear (QEII Stakes) are the pick.

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