William Buick and Ombudsman after scoring the Juddmonte International at York. (JTW Equine Images for Past the Wire)
Special to Past The Wire
As racing fans around the globe prepare for the latest renewal of the Champion Stakes at Ascot, attention turns not only to the field of elite contenders but also to the rich history of one of Britain’s most prestigious flat races. With roots stretching back more than a century, the British Champion Stakes is a jewel in the crown of British racing and a key fixture in the QIPCO British Champions Day.
Over the decades, the Champion Stakes has been graced by legends. Horses like Bayardo (1909) and Trigo (1929) — the latter having also won the Derby and St Leger — added luster to the race’s legacy. In more modern times, the great Frankel delivered one of the most memorable performances in racing history when he signed off his unbeaten career with a commanding win in the 2012 edition under Tom Queally for trainer Sir Henry Cecil.
Last year’s British Champion Stakes was also one to remember, as longshot Anmaat finished strong to upset the field. The betting had largely centred on Economics, the Irish Champion Stakes winner, and Calandagan, fresh from strong performances earlier in the season. But Anmaat, priced at 40/1, was largely overlooked.
As the field entered the straight, Calandagan made a bold inside move while Economics looked somewhat hampered by ground conditions and traffic. In the final furlong, jockey Jim Crowley timed his run to perfection—squeezing through a gap and surging past Calandagan in the closing strides to win by half a length.
Will we see another upset at this year’s renewal? Or will the favourites justify their odds and reign supreme? For those tipping the latter and who are regularly betting on today’s runners, let’s take a look at who are the best-backed in the Horse racing odds to win the Champion Stakes on Saturday, October 18.
Ombudsman
Irish horse Ombudsman has been exceptional since his debut in June 2024, with the colt having won six of his eight starts.
Additionally, in the two fixtures in he didn’t win, he finished a close second. The four-year-old also boasts recent form, with him finishing first past the post by more than three lengths in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York in August.
It’s also worth mentioning Ombudsman’s record at Ascot, with the John and Thady Gosden-trained horse reigning supreme by two lengths from the aforementioned Anmaat in the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes in June of this year.
Calandagan
Trainer Francis Henri Graffard will be hoping his Thoroughbred Calandagan can go one better this year – and if the four-year-old’s form is anything to go by – he’s certainly in with a shot of challenging down the stretch.
Calandagan has been in strong form this calendar year, with a pair of second place finishes to kickstart his 2025 campaign before claiming back-to-back wins in his two most recent starts in June and July.
Although the gelding fell short in this fixture a year ago, Calandagan has experienced success at Royal Ascot in the past, with the Irish-bred horse winning the King Edward VII Stakes by a dominant six lengths in 2024.
Delacroix
Three-year-old Delacroix is a third favourite to win the 2025 Champion Stakes at the time of writing. And the colt is looking primed to challenge when looking at his form, with four wins and a second-place finish in his six starts to date this calendar year.
He particularly impressed last time out, as he kept on well to win the Irish Champions Stakes by just shy of a length from a strong field at Leopardstown.
Can Delacroix put forth a similar showing at Ascot and claim the third Group 1 victory of his career? Time will tell.
