British Champions Day

Powerful Glory holds the record as the longest-priced Group 1 winner in Britain. Sent off at 200/1 for the 2025 Champions Sprint at British Champions Day, he set the mark since the current grading system was introduced. Jamie Spencer rode him for trainer Richard Fahey, and he held off Lazzat, the 2/1 favourite, by a neck. It was a day of upsets at Ascot, as Cicero's Gift later won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at 100/1.

3Long Distance
Cups

First Champions Day hat-trick in one race

Trueshan and Hollie Doyle made the Long Distance Cup their own. The Alan King-trained stayer won it in 2020, 2021 and 2022, the first horse to win the same race on Champions Day in three consecutive years. His first success made Doyle the first woman to ride a winner on Champions Day, and she added the Champions Sprint on Glen Shiel that afternoon, her first Group 1. The hat-trick came by a head from Coltrane.

14Unbeaten
starts

Won both the QEII and the Champion Stakes

Frankel is the only horse to have won both the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the Champion Stakes at British Champions Day. He took the QEII by four lengths from Excelebration at the first Champions Day in 2011. A year later he beat Cirrus des Aigles by a length and three-quarters in the Champion Stakes, with Nathaniel third, and retired unbeaten in 14 starts. Tom Queally rode him for Sir Henry Cecil in both races.

Stories of the 2026 Winners

British Champions Long Distance Cup

Mount Atlas

Mount Atlas was an outsider, returned at decimal odds of 34. The field numbered 10 runners. The horse is by Masar out of Highland Pass. The win was worth GBP 283,550 to the winner. The winning time was 3m 25.60s.

British Champions Sprint Stakes

Almeraq

With this win, Almeraq now has 3 Group 1 wins this season. The winning margin over Paborus was a neck. The horse is by Dark Angel out of Manaajim. The win was worth GBP 283,550 to the winner. The winning time was 1m 12.20s.

British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes

Minnie Hauk

Former winner Kalpana (2024 and 2025) was among the beaten runners, finishing seventh. The winning margin over Believed was 1 ½ lengths. The horse is by Frankel out of Multilingual. The winning time was 2m 29.49s.

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Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

Godolphin

Godolphin had come close here before: Modern Games was second in 2022. With this win, the owner moved to 21 Group 1 wins this season, three wins behind leader Coolmore Group in the owners' table.

Champion Stakes

Ombudsman

In 2025, Ombudsman had finished second here behind Calandagan. The field numbered 6 runners. The horse is by Night Of Thunder out of Syndicate. The win was worth GBP 737,230 to the winner. The winning time was 2m 4.22s.