The 2025 British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse promises a rare good-ground event as the flat season concludes. Highlighted are four outsider horses worth watching: Siren Suit, offering surprising underdog potential at 16/1; No Half Measures, a previous Group One winner at enticing 25/1 odds; Danielle, who shows promise despite recent performances; and Apiarist, favored to excel at a lower mark after a strong recent showing. With strategic selections, punters might find valuable opportunities among these contenders.
Four ante-post tips for British Champions Day 2025
This lucrative meeting takes place at Ascot on Saturday 18th October
Siren Suit, No Half Measures and Danielle feature in our early tips
Neil Callan riding No Half Measures (orange cap) win The Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup. (Getty)
The 2025 flat season comes to an end on Saturday, as Ascot racecourse hosts British Champions Day.
Since 2012, there has only been one year where the going description on Champions Day hasn't featured the words soft or heavy. However, there's very little rain in the forecast building up to Saturday, so we might actually get to enjoy a rare good-ground Champions Day.
A conditions race for juveniles will now open the card on British Champions Day, and I'm surprised to see SIREN SUIT (16/1) sitting so far away from the more fancied runners.
Following a slow-starting sixth on debut at Newbury, John and Thady Gosden's colt caught the eye behind future Middle Park winner Wise Approach here at Ascot in April. Kieran Shoemark was still unmoved in the saddle entering the final furlong, but gave his mount a little too much to do, as Siren Suit flew home to finish less than a length behind Charlie Appleby's star in third.
Following a summer break, Siren Suit shook off his maiden tag with an easy seven-furlong success at Kempton, showing plenty of gears in the final couple of furlongs. This son of Churchill has no other entries, and that run at Kempton should have tee'd Siren Suit up nicely.
2:05pm Ascot - No Half Measures
Considering she won a Group One on her penultimate start, NO HALF MEASURES (25/1) offers a significant amount of value at 25/1.
Richard Hughes' filly returned odds of 66/1 when winning the July Cup. Many thought the ground would be a little too quick for No Half Measures, and a wide draw out in stall 15 didn't help her cause, but Neil Callan's mount produced an unbelievable performance to beat Big Mojo by a neck.
Hughes said going into Haydock that the Sprint Cup was No Half Measure's seasonal goal, but Callan's mount got no luck in-running, and was hampered twice when trying to get into contention. Hughes' filly still brings some of the best seasonal form into the Champions Sprint, and could be worth chancing at a huge price.
Siren Suit (right) finishing third behind Wise Approach at Ascot earlier in the season. (Getty)
2:45pm Ascot - Danielle
I still think there's more to come from DANIELLE (14/1), despite being a little underwhelmed by her performance in the Park Hill Stakes.
John and Thady Gosden's mare ran a blinder to push the race-fit Waardah to the line on her belated reappearance in the Lille Langtry Stakes, and went into Doncaster as the 5/2 favourite. James Doyle's mount was posted a little wide early on, and travelled keenly behind the front-running Santorini Star, but failed to sustain her challenge as she crossed the line fourth.
The runner-up that day, Consent, has since turned the tables on Santorini Star in the Group One Prix Royallieu, so that Doncaster form is clearly pretty good. Champions Day has clearly been the end-goal for Danielle, and I fancy she'll be more effective over this shorter trip.
4:40pm Ascot - Apiarist
Five of the last eight winners of the Balmoral ran in the Challenge Cup on their most recent start. Native Warrior tops the betting following his victory in that seven-furlong handicap, but the one I took out of the Challenge Cup was APIARIST (16/1).
Despite running poorly on his two previous starts, Apiarist was heavily backed going into the Challenge Cup. Tom Eaves' mount almost fell when hampered at the two pole, but finished off his race better than anyone, staying on powerfully to place third behind the impressive winner.
Whereas Native Warrior has a six-pound penalty to contend with on Saturday, Apiarist will actually be running off a one-pound lower mark. Ryan's charge was clearly flying at home going into the Challenge Cup, and I'm hopeful that this step back up in trip is going to suit.
Verdict
2025 Champions Day Ante-Post Tips:
Best Bet1: Siren Suit Champions Day Conditions Stakes Tips @16/1 at bet365 - 5 Units
Best Bet2: No Half Measures Champions Sprint Tips @25/1 at BOYLE Sports - 5 Units
Best Bet3: Danielle Champion Fillies & Mares Stakes Tips @14/1 at Betgoodwin - 5 Units
Best Bet4: Apiarist Balmoral Handicap Tips @16/1 at dabble - 5 Units
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