Three Champions Day races switched to the Inner Flat Course at Ascot again

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: Thu 17 Oct 2024 16:03

Jon Vine 17 Oct 2024

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Breaking news ahead of British Champions Day 2024
The Long Distance Cup, Champion Fillies & Mares and the Champion Stakes have been switched from the Round course to the Inner Flat course
The Champions Sprint, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Balmoral Handicap remain on the Straight Track

Ascot ground. (Getty)

Three Champions Day races have been moved to the Inner Flat Track at Ascot, with the going on the round course officially described as heavy on Thursday morning.

The rules for Champions Day state that, if the going on the round course is described as heavy at the declaration stage, then the races that should be run on the round course will be moved to the inner track.

This has happened twice in the last decade, including last year, with King Of Steel's Champion Stakes victory taking place on the inner track. Chris Stickles, clerk of the course at Ascot, said the ground was very soft at the weekend and conditions haven't improved, prompting Ascot to again make the switch.

"We've moved the round course races to the inner Flat course because, as per the race conditions, the going today had heavy in it on the other track," said Stickles on Thursday morning.

"We've had two millimetres of rain overnight but the forecast looks generally dry for the rest of the day. Through Friday night and Saturday morning we've got further showers forecast, with a current prediction of around six to eight millimetres.

"The going on the straight course and the inner Flat course is soft now and I think conditions will be mainly soft on Saturday too, given the rainfall forecast and where we are just now. Hopefully, the showers should clear up by racing."

Kyprios' rematch with Trawlerman will now take place on the inner flat track, as it did 12 months ago, when John and Thady Gosden's stayer got the better of Aidan O'Brien's star.

The Champion Fillies' & Mares' Stakes, won by Poptronic 12 months ago, will also be run on the inner track, along with the Champion Stakes, which will see Economics and Calandagan lock horns for the first time. Tips for every race on British Champions Day can be found here on our website.