The imminence of Cheltenham and then the Grand National tends to scrub any consideration of Flat racing from most punters’ minds once February rolls around, but it is already less than 10 weeks until the 2,000 Guineas, the first Classic of the new season on turf, and there was some significant news around Britain’s richest day at the races last week with the announcement of a major upgrade to Champions Day at Ascot in October.
There was £4.3m up for grabs on Champions Day last year, which is not too far shy of the £4.93m on offer over the entire four days at Cheltenham next month, and the card will now boast no fewer than five Group One events after the Long Distance Cup’s promotion from Group Two status. The programme will also be extended to seven races with the addition of a new £250,000 contest for two-year-olds, which the track will hope to fast-track to Pattern status as swiftly as possible.
And so it is that in three of the past six seasons, the races on the round course – that will all be Group Ones from this year – have been switched to the tight inner circuit. Mud-spattered horses and riders winning by extended margins on a track where hurdlers will be racing in just a few weeks’ time is an odd way to celebrate the best of a summer sport, but needs must.
But it is not only the likelihood of regularly staging Champions Day on winter ground that makes mid-October a sub-optimal slot. Even if decent ground could be somehow guaranteed, Champions Day is still going to be stuck between Arc weekend in Paris a fortnight earlier and the Breeders’ Cup in the US two or three weeks later.
Quick Guide
Greg Wood’s Thursday tips
Show
Newcastle: 1.35 Duchess 2.10 Show No Fear 2.45 Tomorrow Day 3.20 Our Absent Friends 3.55 Go Out 4.30 Blackcurrent 5.00 Fast Flo 5.35 Barnaby (nap).
Taunton: 1.50 Diamonds For Luck 2.25 Rip Wheeler 3.00 Good Friday Fairy 3.35 Salley Gardens 4.10 Space Voyage 4.45 Berkenshtaaap.
Ludlow: 2.35 Walkadina 3.10 Faitque de L’Isle 3.45 Komedy Kicks 4.20 Sacre Coeur 4.53 Charming Getaway 5.23 Greatness Awaits.
Chelmsford: 5.30 Port Light 6.00 Bint Havana Gold 6.30 Southbank 7.00 Smokey Malone 7.30 State Of Madness 8.00 Egoiste (nb) 8.30 Tempus.
The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is Europe’s most prestigious and valuable all-aged race, while Arc weekend as a whole boasts eight Group One contests. The Breeders’ Cup Turf, meanwhile, all but guarantees a fast racing surface, and both are worth three times as much as the Champion Stakes. As a result, few of the elite middle-distance horses will be actively steered towards Ascot unless, as was the case this year with the gelding Calandagan, they are barred from running at Longchamp.
In Ireland, meanwhile, Champions Weekend is struggling to break through with fans at around the same spot in the calendar where Britain’s Champions Day should arguably be.
Quick Guide
Greg Wood’s Friday tips
Show
Lingfield: 1.55 Book Of Life 2.25 Quandary 3.00 Carbine Harvester (nap) 3.35 Prince Of Pillo 4.10 Mr Escobar 4.45 Urban Sprawl 5.20 Destructive.
Newbury: 2.13 King Of The Lake 2.48 Give It To Me Oj 3.23 Bashers Reflection 3.58 Pierrot Jaguen 4.33 The Famous Five 5.05 Magical King (nb).
Ffos Las: 2.35 Followango 3.10 River Voyage 3.45 Dreams Of Diamonds 4.20 Fame And Fun 4.55 Coup De Gold 5.25 Kosac D’Oudairies.
Southwell: 4.40 Mumayaz 5.15 City Of God 5.45 Cavalo Nero 6.15 Soames Forsyte 6.45 Cliffcake 7.15 Sax Appeal 7.45 Tribal Act 8.15 Sun Keeper.
It is an old argument and probably a dead one, and Champions Day is only one day among many highlights in the Flat season. With five Group Ones, a two-year-old race and an ultra-competitive handicap, this year’s card will also be as strong as it can possibly be – but still not as strong as it probably should be, given the size, significance and rich history of UK Flat racing.
