Blogs: Horse Racing

The Dirt Mile is a Grade 1 for milers wanting a stiffer test than a sprint but less ground than the Classic, a race that rewards genuine tactical speed. Our trends guide covers the profile and shortlist.

The Breeders' Cup Classic is American racing's championship race, run over a mile and a quarter on dirt and usually deciding the Horse of the Year title. Our trends guide covers the profile, post positions and the shortlist.

The Breeders' Cup World Championships bring together the finest horses on turf and dirt across two days of Grade 1 racing. Our guide covers every contest, with trends, past winners and shortlists throughout the meeting.

Ascot's straight mile crowns the season's champion miler, a Group 1 pitching classic pitting three-year-olds against seasoned older horses in what is often Champions Day's outstanding contest. Our trends guide covers the profile, the draw and the shortlist.

Six furlongs of Ascot speed closes the sprint season, a Group 1 on Champions Day where autumn ground and which side of the track the pace develops both matter. Our trends guide covers the profile, the draw and the shortlist.

Two miles at Ascot settles the staying division on Champions Day, a Group 2 where cup horses meet late-season improvers on ground that can turn genuinely testing. Our trends guide covers the profile, the draw and the shortlist.

An extended mile and a half at Ascot decides the distaff championship, a Group 1 that regularly draws European raiders to Champions Day for one final autumn target. Our trends guide covers the profile, the draw and the shortlist.

A mile and a quarter at Ascot brings the flat season to its climax, a Group 1 where the year's leading middle-distance horses meet with championship honours firmly at stake. Our trends guide covers the profile, the draw and the shortlist.

Champions Day signs off with the Balmoral, a big-field mile handicap down Ascot's straight where the draw, a workable mark and a clear run all shape a frantic finish. Our trends guide covers the profile, the draw and the shortlist.

Britain's flat season is framed by the Champions Series, a set of showpiece contests across five divisions running from the spring classics through to Ascot's grand finale. Our guide covers the series race by race, with trends and shortlists.