The 2025 flat racing season concludes with the British Champions Day at Ascot, featuring five Group One races and a new juvenile contest. Key betting tips include Trawlerman for the Long Distance Cup and Siren Suit for the Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes. No Half Measures is tipped for a surprise in the Champions Sprint Stakes after previous successes. Danielle, Marvelman, and Great Acclaim are other noteworthy contenders in their respective races. Bettors are advised to consider the form and conditions for optimal chances in this prestigious event.
The 2025 flat season draws to a close on Saturday, as Ascot racecourse stages British Champions Day.
Five Group One races will be shown live on ITV Racing, as well as a brand new conditions race for juveniles, and the thrilling Balmoral Handicap. Here are our best betting tips through the full card on British Champions Day 2025.
ITV Racing Tips - British Champions Day 2025 Tips
12:55pm Ascot - Long Distance Cup Tips
I can't find an angle that will enable me to take Trawlerman on. The Gold Cup winner looks home and hosed.
1:30pm Ascot - Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes Tips
In my ante-post tips for Champions Day, I put SIREN SUIT (10/1) up at 16/1, and I really think Rab Havlin's mount can challenge the big guns in this brand new contest.
After 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 gave his mount a "Field Of Gold in the 2000 Guineas" kind of ride, 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. Dropping down to six furlongs should be ideal, and Havlin's mount has landed a kind, central draw in stall five.
2:05pm Ascot - Champions Sprint Stakes Tips
NO HALF MEASURES (22/1) returned odds of 66/1 when winning the July Cup on her penultimate start. Many thought the ground would be a little too quick for Richard Hughes' filly, 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 big price.
Another outsider with place claims is IBERIAN (50/1), who'll wear blinkers for the first time. Charlie Hill's sprinter ran a cracking race here during the Royal Meeting, where Iberian started slowly, but found an extra gear down the outside of the field to finish fifth behind Lazzatt and Satono Reve.
A late swerve cost Iberian victory in the Cammidge Trophy, slow starts ruined his chances in both the Greenlands and the Lennox Stakes, and Hills' star was too keen on quick ground on his most recent outing at Newmarket. Iberian is a tricky customer, but there's plenty of back-class in his form and that effort during Royal Ascot gives me hope.
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.
Neil Callan riding No Half Measures (orange cap) win The Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes at Newmarket. (Getty)
3:25pm Ascot - Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Tips
Field Of Gold has a long absence to overcome. Rosallion could be coming to the end of his tether, after a long season of banging his head against the crossbar, and the worst performance of Fallen Angel's career came on her only start against the colts in the Lockinge.
Docklands and Never So Brave both appeal against the leading protagonists. As does Andrew Balding's second-string MARVELMAN (22/1), who was supplemented into the QEII following a wildly impressive victory in the Park Stakes.
Balding's three-year-old destroyed a pretty decent field at Doncaster, stretching three lengths clear close to home, having travelled powerfully throughout. Balding would prefer the ground to be a little slower and this will be Marvelman's first try at a mile. Yet, PJ McDonald's mount is a three-year-old on the up, and there's plenty of scope for an each-way punt in this 16-runner renewal.
Five of the last eight winners of the Balmoral have come from the Challenge Cup, so you can see why Native Warrior - who won that handicap comfortably two weeks ago - is the firm favourite. GREAT ACCLAIM (16/1) ran well to place fourth that day, despite drifting markedly in the build-up to the contest.
Eve Johnson Houghton's four-year-old has enjoyed a consistent campaign running in seven-furlong handicaps. Charlie Bishop's mount claimed back-to-back wins at Goodwood and Chepstow earlier in the season, before bumping into Darkness back at Goodwood and Native Warrior twice here at Ascot.
Cheek-pieces go on for what will likely be Great Acclaim's final assignment of a busy season. Stall seven should be fine, and faster ground on Saturday should certainly suit.
Verdict
Top Tips on Champions Day:
Best Bet1: Siren Suit 1:30pm Ascot @10/1 at BOYLE Sports - 5 Units
Best Bet2: Great Acclaim E/W 4:40pm Ascot @16/1 at bet365 - 5 Units
Best Bet3: Marvelman E/W 3:25pm Ascot @22/1 at dabble - 5 Units
Best Bet4: No Half Measures E/W 2:05pm Ascot @22/1 at Betgoodwin - 5 Units
18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply.
Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad