British Champions Series Preview, Tips, Runners & Trends (Champions Day)

Updated: 1541 Horse Racing

We look ahead to the six-race card at British Champions Day which takes place at the Ascot racecourse, which runners have won in the Champions Series and will be making the way to Champions Day.

British Champions Series Preview, Tips, Runners & Trends (Champions Day)
Andy Powell Content Editor

Horse Racing stats man, Andy has contributed to OLBG for 18 years - An Ipswich fan and F1 fanatic, he also contributes EFL football and Motor Sport opinion.

2024 British Champions Series

The British Champion Series concludes on Saturday 19th October with British Champions Day at Ascot, be sure to head over to our dedicated Ascot racing predictions page on the day to see which runners the OLBG horse racing tipsters are backing to win, in addition to those listed below, the Balmoral Handicap is also featured on Champions Day.

British Champion Sprint Series

There are six races in the British Champion Sprint Series prior to the finale on British Champions Day, two of the six are run over five furlongs, are the Kings Stand Stakes and the Nunthorpe Stakes whilst the other four races are all over six furlongs. Remember to head over to the British Champion Sprint Series blog for trends and statistics on the race. The Nunthorpe is open to runners aged two or older while the Commonwealth Cup is open to those aged three only, the other four races are all open to runners aged three or older.

British Champions Mile Series

The Mile Series kicks off with two races open to three-year-old runners only, the 2000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes, there are then two races open to runners aged four or older, the Lockinge Stakes and the Queen Anne Stakes. The last three races in the series are the Sussex Stakes, the Sun Chariot Stakes and then the final on Champions Day, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

British Champions Middle Distance Series

Considered by many as the favourite category, the Middle Distance Series contains races from one mile and two furlongs to those over one mile and furlongs and ends with the British Champion Stakes on Champions Day. In the build-up to the finale, there are six prior races in the series kicking off with the Coronation Cup at Epsom, which is followed by the Derby also at Epsom and then the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. These are followed by the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and finally the Juddmonte International at York.

British Champions Long Distance Series

In the Long Distance Series, you will see a lot of the national hunt trainers mixing it with the flat trainers as this series is all about stamina. Things kick off with the 1m6f Yorkshire Cup at York which is followed by the 2m4f Ascot Gold Cup which takes place during Royal Ascot, three-year-olds get their first attempt in the series in the Goodwood Cup (2m), and then the Lonsdale Cup (2m) at York which is followed by the Doncaster Cup (2m2f). The St Leger (1m6f) is the only race in the series open to only three-year-old runners and proceeds to the finale on British Champions Day, the British Champions Long Distance Cup.

British Champions Fillies & Mares Series

As it says on the tin, this series is dedicated to the Filly & Mares which finishes with the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot. The series kicks off with the three-year-old runners with three races open to only those of that age, the Newmarket 1000 Guineas, followed by the Oaks at Epsom and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. The older runners are then permitted to run in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket, the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and the Yorkshire Oaks at York which are the races prior to the final at Ascot.

2024 British Champions Sprint Series

Leading Trainers

The leading trainer in the Sprint Series is Charles Hills who has won 6 of the races. Those 6 winners came from Muhaarar (2015 - Commonwealth Cup), Muhaarar (2015 - July Cup), Muhaarar (2015 - British Champions Sprint Stakes), Battaash (2019 - Nunthorpe Stakes), Battaash (2020 - Nunthorpe Stakes) & Battaash (2020 - Kings Stand Stakes).

Not so Good Trainers

There are multiple trainers who have not had the best of times in the Sprint Series, Roger Varian (0-21), William Haggas (0-19), Richard Hannon (0-19), Michael Appleby (0-12) & David C Griffiths (0-12) have all failed to produce a single winner despite sending multiple runners to the race.

Here are the top ten trainers over the past ten years for runners in the current Sprint Series races:

TrainerR-W-PWinEW
Charles Hills47-6-13-23.42-17.18
Clive Cox35-4-9-15.50-18.58
A P O'Brien68-3-10-51.67-42.06
Charlie Appleby27-3-7-10.00-12.95
Edward Lynam15-3-4-2.50-6.30
Kevin Ryan54-2-13-36.50-23.70
Richard Fahey35-2-7-1.50-1.50
Henry Candy25-2-10-8.50-7.55
Andrew Balding23-2-4+26.00+8.70
K R Burke19-2-5-11.75-4.65

Leading Jockeys

The leading jockey in the Sprint Series is Jim Crowley who has won 5 of the races. Those 5 winners came with Eqtidaar (2018 - Commonwealth Cup), Battaash (2019 - Nunthorpe Stakes), Battaash (2020 - Nunthorpe Stakes), Battaash (2020 - Kings Stand Stakes) & Minzaal (2022 - Haydock Sprint Cup).

Not so Good Jockeys

There are multiple jockeys who have not had the best of times in the Sprint Series, Jamie Spencer (0-27), Tom Eaves (0-21), Sean Levey (0-13), Seamie Heffernan (0-11) & Kevin Stott (0-11) have all failed to produce a single winner despite riding multiple runners to the race.

Here are the top ten jockeys over the past ten years for rides in the current Sprint Series races:

JockeyR-W-PWinEW
Jim Crowley32-5-10-8.42-12.68
Adam Kirby34-4-8-14.50-18.08
Ryan Moore43-3-10-26.67-24.16
Oisin Murphy35-3-8-13.50-14.90
Frankie Dettori31-3-11-12.00-13.83
James Doyle37-2-8-28.00-24.90
William Buick36-2-7-22.50-22.75
Silvestre De Sousa24-2-5+20.00+7.80
Paul Mulrennan17-2-4-3.00-3.80
Wayne Lordan17-2-5-8.25-1.95

2024 British Champions Mile Series

Leading Trainers

The leading trainer in the Mile Series is A P O'Brien who has won 14 of the races. Those 14 winners came from Gleneagles (2015 - St Jamess Palace Stakes), Gleneagles (2015 - Qipco 2000 Guineas), Alice Springs (2016 - Sun Chariot Stakes), Minding (2016 - Queen Elizabeth II Stakes), The Gurkha (2016 - Sussex Stakes), Churchill (2017 - Qipco 2000 Guineas), Roly Poly (2017 - Sun Chariot Stakes), Saxon Warrior (2018 - Qipco 2000 Guineas), Rhododendron (2018 - Lockinge Stakes), Magna Grecia (2019 - Qipco 2000 Guineas), Circus Maximus (2019 - St Jamess Palace Stakes), Circus Maximus (2020 - Queen Anne Stakes), Paddington (2023 - Sussex Stakes) & Paddington (2023 - St Jamess Palace Stakes).

Not so Good Trainers

There are multiple trainers who have not had the best of times in the Mile Series, Charles Hills (0-22), Saeed bin Suroor (0-16) & Ralph Beckett (0-10) have all failed to produce a single winner despite sending multiple runners to the race.

Here are the top ten trainers over the past ten years for runners in the current Mile Series races:

TrainerR-W-PWinEW
A P O'Brien107-14-34-49.74-39.79
John Gosden30-8-15+4.88+1.05
Richard Hannon60-7-20+22.43+12.71
Andrew Balding37-4-8+4.00-4.39
William Haggas28-4-8-21.22-19.92
Charlie Appleby29-3-11-17.09-9.40
John & Thady Gosden17-3-7-12.30-8.26
Roger Varian37-2-7+6.00+4.45
Richard Fahey21-2-9-16.15+2.43
Sir Michael Stoute21-2-5-6.50-8.11

Leading Jockeys

The leading jockey in the Mile Series is Ryan Moore who has won 13 of the races. Those 13 winners came with Integral (2014 - Sun Chariot Stakes), Gleneagles (2015 - St Jamess Palace Stakes), Gleneagles (2015 - Qipco 2000 Guineas), Alice Springs (2016 - Sun Chariot Stakes), Minding (2016 - Queen Elizabeth II Stakes), The Gurkha (2016 - Sussex Stakes), Churchill (2017 - Qipco 2000 Guineas), Roly Poly (2017 - Sun Chariot Stakes), Rhododendron (2018 - Lockinge Stakes), Circus Maximus (2019 - St Jamess Palace Stakes), Circus Maximus (2020 - Queen Anne Stakes), Paddington (2023 - Sussex Stakes) & Paddington (2023 - St Jamess Palace Stakes).

Not so Good Jockeys

There are multiple jockeys who have not had the best of times in the Mile Series, Jamie Spencer (0-25), Silvestre De Sousa (0-20), Seamie Heffernan (0-16), Adam Kirby (0-15), Kieran Shoemark (0-13), Pat Dobbs (0-11), Christophe Soumillon (0-10), David Egan (0-10) & Chris Hayes (0-10) have all failed to produce a single winner despite riding multiple runners to the race.

Here are the top ten jockeys over the past ten years for rides in the current Mile Series races:

JockeyR-W-PWinEW
Ryan Moore63-13-25-11.74-14.10
Frankie Dettori50-11-20+2.83-6.61
Jim Crowley37-8-10+14.28-0.34
James Doyle48-5-13-31.62-26.31
William Buick41-5-19-24.24-6.97
Oisin Murphy33-4-14-4.50+17.85
Maxime Guyon8-3-5-2.12-0.45
Daniel Tudhope24-2-5-5.25-9.41
Sean Levey13-2-4+17.00+6.20
Neil Callan2-2-2+49.00+29.40

2024 British Champions Middle Distance Series

Leading Trainers

There are two leading trainers in the Middle Distance Series with both A P O'Brien & John Gosden who have both won 14 races in the series. A P O'Brien winners have been with Australia (2014 - Epsom Derby), Australia (2014 - Juddmonte International Stakes), Highland Reel (2016 - King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes), Highland Reel (2017 - Coronation Cup), Highland Reel (2017 - Prince of Wales's Stakes), Wings Of Eagles (2017 - Epsom Derby), Magical (2019 - British Champion Stakes), Anthony Van Dyck (2019 - Epsom Derby), Japan (2019 - Juddmonte International Stakes), Serpentine (2020 - Epsom Derby), St Marks Basilica (2021 - Eclipse Stakes), Love (2021 - Prince of Wales's Stakes), Auguste Rodin (2023 - Epsom Derby) & Paddington (2023 - Eclipse Stakes). John Gosden winners have been with The Fugue (2014 - Prince of Wales's Stakes), Taghrooda (2014 - King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes), Golden Horn (2015 - Eclipse Stakes), Golden Horn (2015 - Epsom Derby), Cracksman (2017 - British Champion Stakes), Enable (2017 - King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes), Roaring Lion (2018 - Juddmonte International Stakes), Cracksman (2018 - Coronation Cup), Roaring Lion (2018 - Eclipse Stakes), Cracksman (2018 - British Champion Stakes), Enable (2019 - Eclipse Stakes), Enable (2019 - King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes), Enable (2020 - King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes) & Lord North (2020 - Prince of Wales's Stakes).

Not so Good Trainers

There are multiple trainers who have not had the best of times in the Middle Distance Series, Andrew Balding (0-22), David Simcock (0-17), Saeed bin Suroor (0-11), Ralph Beckett (0-11) & J S Bolger (0-10) have all failed to produce a single winner despite sending multiple runners to the race.

Here are the top ten trainers over the past ten years for runners in the current Middle Distance Series races:

TrainerR-W-PWinEW
A P O'Brien133-14-37-26.04-47.12
John Gosden67-14-26-26.54-27.56
Sir Michael Stoute38-7-18+3.75-0.28
Charlie Appleby33-7-11+18.98+5.97
Roger Varian20-4-8+0.61+9.02
John & Thady Gosden17-4-7+5.00+3.07
William Haggas30-3-12-3.60+2.06
D K Weld6-3-4+16.00+8.50
J-C Rouget4-2-2+2.13+0.55
William Muir & Chris Grassick4-2-3+24.00+15.00

Leading Jockeys

The leading jockey in the Middle Distance Series is Frankie Dettori who has won 13 of the races. Those 13 winners came with Golden Horn (2015 - Eclipse Stakes), Golden Horn (2015 - Epsom Derby), Cracksman (2017 - British Champion Stakes), Enable (2017 - King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes), Cracksman (2018 - Coronation Cup), Cracksman (2018 - British Champion Stakes), Enable (2019 - Eclipse Stakes), Crystal Ocean (2019 - Prince of Wales's Stakes), Enable (2019 - King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes), Enable (2020 - King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes), Emily Upjohn (2023 - Coronation Cup), King Of Steel (2023 - British Champion Stakes) & Mostahdaf (2023 - Juddmonte International Stakes).

Not so Good Jockeys

There is one jockey who has not had the best of times in the Middle Distance Series, Jamie Spencer has ridden a total of 15 runners in the race without recording any wins.

Here are the top ten jockeys over the past ten years for rides in the current Middle Distance Series races:

JockeyR-W-PWinEW
Frankie Dettori48-13-22-15.54-18.65
Ryan Moore62-8-26-35.54-27.62
William Buick44-7-17-2.52-4.32
Jim Crowley28-6-10+9.65+1.79
James Doyle34-4-12-10.75-10.80
Andrea Atzeni26-4-7-2.39-5.88
Christophe Soumillon9-3-3-0.96-1.88
Oisin Murphy28-2-6-21.25-16.96
Adam Kirby9-2-2+25.00+12.60
Richard Kingscote7-2-2+7.50+2.25

2024 British Champions Long Distance Series

Leading Trainers

The leading trainer in the Long Distance Series is John Gosden who has won 16 of the races. Those 16 winners came from Flying Officer (2015 - British Champions Long Distance Cup), Stradivarius (2017 - Goodwood Cup), Stradivarius (2018 - Lonsdale Cup), Stradivarius (2018 - Goodwood Cup), Stradivarius (2018 - Ascot Gold Cup), Stradivarius (2018 - British Champions Long Distance Cup), Stradivarius (2018 - Yorkshire Cup), Stradivarius (2019 - Lonsdale Cup), Stradivarius (2019 - Goodwood Cup), Stradivarius (2019 - Ascot Gold Cup), Stradivarius (2019 - Doncaster Cup), Logician (2019 - St Leger), Stradivarius (2019 - Yorkshire Cup), Stradivarius (2020 - Goodwood Cup), Enbihaar (2020 - Lonsdale Cup) & Stradivarius (2020 - Ascot Gold Cup).

Not so Good Trainers

There are two trainers who have not had the best of times in the Long Distance Series, Richard Fahey has sent a total of 11 runners to the race without recording any wins whilst Ian Williams has sent out 10 without a winner.

Here are the top ten trainers over the past ten years for runners in the current Long Distance Series races:

TrainerR-W-PWinEW
John Gosden36-16-22+3.81+0.08
A P O'Brien80-9-20-52.75-45.21
Andrew Balding45-5-14-5.25-5.09
John & Thady Gosden17-5-13+7.03+7.87
Alan King11-5-8+11.91+7.56
Sir Michael Stoute14-4-8+0.13+0.02
Michael Bell7-3-4+9.75+4.90
W P Mullins35-2-8-23.00-15.85
David Simcock21-2-7-4.67-4.86
Hughie Morrison17-2-2+3.25-3.99

Leading Jockeys

The leading jockey in the Long Distance Series is Frankie Dettori who has won 19 of the races. Those 19 winners came with Flying Officer (2015 - British Champions Long Distance Cup), Max Dynamite (2015 - Lonsdale Cup), Stradivarius (2018 - Lonsdale Cup), Stradivarius (2018 - Ascot Gold Cup), Stradivarius (2018 - British Champions Long Distance Cup), Stradivarius (2018 - Yorkshire Cup), Stradivarius (2019 - Lonsdale Cup), Stradivarius (2019 - Goodwood Cup), Stradivarius (2019 - Ascot Gold Cup), Stradivarius (2019 - Doncaster Cup), Logician (2019 - St Leger), Stradivarius (2019 - Yorkshire Cup), Stradivarius (2020 - Goodwood Cup), Stradivarius (2020 - Ascot Gold Cup), Stradivarius (2021 - Lonsdale Cup), Stradivarius (2021 - Doncaster Cup), Stradivarius (2022 - Yorkshire Cup), Trawlerman (2023 - British Champions Long Distance Cup) & Courage Mon Ami (2023 - Ascot Gold Cup).

Not so Good Jockeys

There are two jockeys who have not had the best of times in the Long Distance Series, Daniel Tudhope has ridden a total of 13 runners in the race without recording any wins whilst Richard Kingscote has sent out 11 without a winner.

Here are the top ten jockeys over the past ten years for rides in the current Long Distance Series races:

JockeyR-W-PWinEW
Frankie Dettori46-19-29+15.16+7.35
Ryan Moore50-12-24-12.03-9.44
Andrea Atzeni34-6-15+7.55+9.95
Hollie Doyle10-5-7+12.91+7.06
William Buick39-3-8-28.27-24.84
Tom Marquand14-3-4+11.25+3.51
Jamie Spencer15-2-2-4.25-7.75
Martin Harley14-2-7+2.33+1.85
P J McDonald8-2-2+12.50+5.16
James Doyle33-1-6-27.00-23.10

2024 British Champions Fillies & Mares Series

Leading Trainers

The leading trainer in the Fillies & Mares Series is A P O'Brien who has won 23 of the races. Those 23 winners came from Tapestry (2014 - Yorkshire Oaks), Qualify (2015 - Epsom Oaks), Minding (2016 - Nassau Stakes), Minding (2016 - Epsom Oaks), Minding (2016 - Qipco 1000 Guineas), Alice Springs (2016 - Falmouth Stakes), Seventh Heaven (2016 - Yorkshire Oaks), Hydrangea (2017 - British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes), Winter (2017 - Coronation Stakes), Winter (2017 - Nassau Stakes), Winter (2017 - Qipco 1000 Guineas), Roly Poly (2017 - Falmouth Stakes), Magical (2018 - British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes), Forever Together (2018 - Epsom Oaks), Hermosa (2019 - Qipco 1000 Guineas), Love (2020 - Yorkshire Oaks), Love (2020 - Qipco 1000 Guineas), Love (2020 - Epsom Oaks), Snowfall (2021 - Epsom Oaks), Mother Earth (2021 - Qipco 1000 Guineas), Snowfall (2021 - Yorkshire Oaks), Tuesday (2022 - Epsom Oaks) & Warm Heart (2023 - Yorkshire Oaks).

Here are the top ten trainers over the past ten years for runners in the current Fillies & Mares Series races:

TrainerR-W-PWinEW
A P O'Brien140-23-51+27.96+4.94
John Gosden56-9-19-11.75-14.90
John & Thady Gosden20-5-9-2.17-4.23
Mrs John Harrington14-3-5-3.31-1.66
Roger Varian32-2-5-5.00-10.04
Ralph Beckett30-2-8-7.00-2.12
Richard Hannon26-2-7+48.00+30.95
Sir Michael Stoute21-2-9-11.12-1.92
J-C Rouget5-2-3+6.00+3.65
Charlie Appleby18-1-3-13.00-12.88

Leading Jockeys

The leading jockey in the Fillies & Mares Series is Ryan Moore who has won 19 of the races. Those 19 winners came with Rizeena (2014 - Coronation Stakes), Integral (2014 - Falmouth Stakes), Tapestry (2014 - Yorkshire Oaks), Legatissimo (2015 - Qipco 1000 Guineas), Minding (2016 - Nassau Stakes), Minding (2016 - Epsom Oaks), Minding (2016 - Qipco 1000 Guineas), Alice Springs (2016 - Falmouth Stakes), Hydrangea (2017 - British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes), Winter (2017 - Coronation Stakes), Winter (2017 - Nassau Stakes), Roly Poly (2017 - Falmouth Stakes), Magical (2018 - British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes), Love (2020 - Yorkshire Oaks), Love (2020 - Qipco 1000 Guineas), Fancy Blue (2020 - Nassau Stakes), Love (2020 - Epsom Oaks), Snowfall (2021 - Yorkshire Oaks) & Tuesday (2022 - Epsom Oaks).

Not so Good Jockeys

There are multiple jockeys who have not had the best of times in the Fillies & Mares Series, Seamie Heffernan (0-23), Tom Marquand (0-18), Silvestre De Sousa (0-17), Jamie Spencer (0-13), David Egan (0-12), Olivier Peslier (0-10) & Mickael Barzalona (0-10) have all failed to produce a single winner despite riding multiple runners to the race.

Here are the top ten jockeys over the past ten years for rides in the current Fillies & Mares Series races:

JockeyR-W-PWinEW
Ryan Moore63-19-36+9.76+4.67
Frankie Dettori53-12-25+6.88+2.04
James Doyle35-4-6+4.25-6.22
Jim Crowley26-4-6+19.50+7.62
Oisin Murphy25-4-7+19.50+6.70
William Buick46-3-8-29.50-28.14
Wayne Lordan16-3-5+12.00+6.30
Sean Levey10-2-5+64.00+43.85
Hollie Doyle9-2-4-1.80-1.98
Andrea Atzeni30-1-7-24.00-16.67

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