Blogs

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.

Sedgefield's Durham National is a marathon handicap chase on a tight, undulating circuit where jumping accuracy and reserves of stamina in deep midwinter ground both prove absolutely essential. Our trends guide covers the winning profile and the shortlist.

Pontefract's Silver Tankard is a Listed contest for two-year-olds over an extended mile, a stiff, undulating track that asks real questions of stamina late in the season. Our trends guide covers the profile, the draw and the shortlist.

Five furlongs downhill at Catterick produces one of the fastest sprints in the calendar, a headlong dash where the draw and a lightning break count above almost everything else. Our trends guide covers the profile, the draw and the shortlist.