Ascot Champions Day 2026, Best Betting Offers, Odds & Tips
Craig Jones
Qatar Racing British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse is the richest day in British racing, with plenty of horse racing free bets and betting offers up for grabs for punters to enjoy.
The seven-race card brings the Flat season to a close, with £4.35 million in prize money up for grabs and five Group 1 contests.
Qatar Racing takes over as title sponsor from parent company QIPCO for the first time in 2026, while QIPCO will continue backing the fixture until 2028.
British Champions Day 2026 takes place on Saturday, October 17 and we'll have horse racing tips for all of the action.
Ascot Champions Day Betting Offers
Punters can take advantage of a range of Ascot Champions Day betting offers and free bets ahead of the action.
Content on this site will contain reference to products or services from one or more of our advertisers or partners. We may receive compensation when you view ads or click on links to those products or services.
How to Get Free Bets for Ascot Champions Day
As one of the biggest fixtures of the Flat racing season, Ascot Champions Day draws plenty of betting interest, with a range of free bets and offers to enhance the action.
In the build-up to the meeting, UK betting sites are expected to offer Champions Day promotions, including free bets and odds boosts.
Ascot Champions Day Betting Tips & Stats Guide
Check out more from the Freebets horse racing hub, including tips, stats, market movers and today’s racecards!
When & Where is Ascot Champions Day?
Ascot Champions Day is one of the biggest dates in the racing calendar, attracting plenty of betting interest ahead of this year’s meeting on Saturday, October 17.
While Ascot Racecourse is best known for its Royal Meeting, Champions Day takes centre stage when it comes to prize money, making it the richest day of racing in Britain.
Champions Day Runner’s & Odds
Ascot Champions Day Races & Schedule
The table below shows the 2026 Qatar Racing British Champions Day race order at Ascot.
| Time | Race | Grade | Distance | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:55pm | Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes | Class 2 | 6 furlongs | £250,000 |
| 1:30pm | Champions Long Distance Cup | Group 1 | 2 miles | £500,000 |
| 2:05pm | Champions Sprint Stakes | Group 1 | 6 furlongs | £500,000 |
| 2:40pm | Champions Fillies' & Mares Stakes | Group 1 | 1 mile 4 furlongs | £500,00 |
| 3:20pm | Queen Elizabeth II Stakes | Group 1 | 1 mile | £1,100,000 |
| 4:00pm | Champion Stakes | Group 1 | 1 mile 2 furlongs | £1,300,000 |
| 4:35pm | Balmoral Handicap | Class 2Handicap | 1 mile | £200,000 |
Champions Stakes Previous Winners
The Champions Stakes is one of the biggest betting highlights of the Flat racing season, with Frankel winning in 2012.
Worth £1.3 million, the race regularly attracts Guineas and Royal Ascot winners, as well as the best horses from France.
Favourites have an excellent record in the Champions Stakes, as the list of previous winners below shows.
| Year | Winner | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Calandagan | 13/8 |
| 2024 | Anmaat | 40/1 |
| 2023 | King Of Steel | 3/1 |
| 2022 | Bay Bridge | 10/1 |
| 2021 | Sealiway | 12/1 |
British Champions Day - FAQs
Is Ascot Champions Day televised?
Yes - live coverage is on ITV Racing and Racing TV in the UK and Ireland, with the action also streamed by leading bookmakers.
How much prize money is on offer?
The total prize money on the day is £4.35 million across seven races, making Champions Day the richest one-day race meeting of the UK flat racing season.
What should I wear to Ascot Champions Day?
There is no set dress code for the Queen Anne Enclosure at Ascot on Champions Day but racegoers are encouraged to dress for a smart occasion.
What ground conditions (going) can we expect?
Champions Day falls in mid-October, so the going depends heavily on autumn weather in the run-up - recent years have ranged from good to heavy. Always check Ascot's final going report on raceday morning before betting.
How many Group 1 races are on Champions Day?
Five of the day's seven races are run at Group 1 level - the Long Distance Cup, Sprint Stakes, Fillies & Mares Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the Champion Stakes.
