A bumper day of horse racing action on Saturday with a star-studded Champions Day so to take you through the card you can see Andy Newton’s Ascot tips for all seven races.Â
Ascot Horse Racing Tips On Champions Day 2025Â
Another busy ITV Racing schedule this Saturday from the lucrative Ascot Champions Day – with the ‘free-to-air’ channel showing ALL seven contests LIVE.
The action gets going at 12:55pm with the Long Distance Cup, with all eyes on 2023 winner Trawlerman as he looks to win back his staying Champions Day crown.
A 2 year-old conditions race is a new addition to the seven-race card next – giving racing fans a chance to see some stars of the future, which could be hot Godolphin favourite Words Of Truth.
The sprinters take to the Ascot stage next in a race that the last two winners -Art Power and Kind Of Blue – are back for more.
Then another past British Champions Day winner Kalpana will be hoping to land the Fillies & Mares Stakes at the middle race on the card – but will need to bounce back, having not win since landing this 12 months ago.
The QEII Stakes is another intriguing affair with Irish 2000 Guineas winner Field Of Gold back in action – he takes on the classy but frustrating Rosallion and the resurgent Fallen Angel.
Champion Stakes The Main Course
Then it’s onto the Champions Day main course and Ombudsman vs Delacroix III in the Champion Stakes – who is your money on to grab the bragging rights or will King George winner Calandagan upset the party?
The card ends with the ultra-competitive Balmoral Handicap – a race trainer John Gosden is yet to win, but has had five seconds.
Andy Newton takes you through each of the Saturday races – giving his Ascot horse racing tips and 1-2-3 best bets.
You can also catch him on the FINAL FURLONG podcast this week looking at all the Champions Day races.
Andy Newton’s Ascot Racing Tips On Saturday 18th October 2025Â
12:55 – Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 1) Cl1 (3yo+) 2m ITV
Stay True looks a promising ‘cup horse’ for the future and put in some nice time figures in the St Leger and Great Voltigeur – but we’ve only had one 3 year-old winner of this since 2009 and none since the meeting was moved to Ascot in 2011.
The consistent Sweet William is a likable horse and was runner-up in 2024, when Trawlerman was third – but the overall H2H record between the pair stands at 4-1 to the Godolphin horse.
Last year Trawlerman also came here off a four month break, but this season connections have kept him ticking over – running the Gold Cup winner in the Lonsdale Cup, where he had Sweet William back in second.
Therefore, it’s hard to see past TRAWLERMAN, who won this in 2023, and will be looking become the first horse to win back this race since Persian Punch.
🥇TRAWLERMAN
🥈SWEET WILLIAM
🥉STAY TRUEÂ
1:30 – Qipco British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes (GBB Race) Cl2 (2yo) 6f ITV
A new race to Champions Day – giving us the chance to see some potential stars of the future – just like WORDS OF TRUTH, who has had a great juvenile career.
He’s won three on the bounce, including last time when impressive in running down the promising Into The Sky in the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.
He’s rated 112 and the clear highest in the field and with the Charlie Appleby yard boasting a decent 33% SR with their 2 year-olds at Ascot this is a further plus.
Of the rest, the Gosden runner Siren Suit has a bit to find on the ratings, but is one of the more unexposed and ran Middle Park winner Wise Approach to 3/4 lengths back in April. He’s interesting for sure having won well last time at Kempton.
While I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Aidan O’Brien Champions Day runner Mission Central run better than his recent 6th in the Flying Childers (5f) now back up to 6f.
🥇WORDS OF TRUTH
🥈MISSION CENTRAL
🥉SIREN SUITÂ
You can also back these first two Godolpin hot-pots with their Ombudsman (if you like him too) in a Ascot Saturday tips 6/1 treble.
2:05 – Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1) Cl1 (3yo+) 6f ITV
The current state of play with the sprint division in the UK and Ireland has been a bit of a lottery – with no real dominate player.
Therefore, I’d really not be shocked if anything won this.
However, with all winners on this race aged 6 or younger since 1960 – this, for me, would be a negative for last year’s 5th Montassib (7) and past winner Art Power (8).
Lazzat is a player based on his Royal Ascot QEII Jubilee Stakes, but has failed to build on that since and I’m happy to leave him.
Big Mojo was a good winner of the Sprint Cup and is respected too. But I’m happy to side with the second that day KIND OF BLUE.Â
This James Fanshawe runner also took this race 12 months ago and has had the exact same preparation as last year – running at the Curragh, Haydock and now Ascot this season.
He’s taken to give the yard their fourth success in this race.
While last year’s third Flora Of Bermuda has only put in one bad run this term – when fluffing the start in the July Cup in the summer – and is sure to be in the mix.
And, finally, French filly Rayevka is interesting too – having run a blinder to be a close third in the Commonwealth Cup here over Royal Ascot in June.
She’s unexposed with just eight runs (2 wins) and so could have more in the locker to come.
🥇KIND OF BLUE
🥈FLORA OF BERMUDA
🥉RAYEVKA
 2:45 – Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m4f ITV
Kalpana was a classy winner of this race last year and is back for more (watch below).
However, she’s not won a race since – with five outings without success – and comes here having only raced 13 days again in the Arc.
That said, she’s still the top-rated in the field and did run a blinder to be second in the King George here in July.
The Fillies & Mares Stakes stats, however, tell us we’ve not had a winner since 2011 (when moved to Ascot) from stalls 1, 3, 5 or 7 – So Kalpana, from gate 7, has this to overcome.
As does Estrange in gate 1 – in fact, we’ve only had one placed horse from stall 1 since 2015. Which is a shame as I quite like this O’Meara horse.
She was only 3 1/2 lengths off Minnie Hauk last time in the Yorkshire Oak – giving away 9lbs. While Kalpana was 7 lengths off Minnie Hauk, giving 7lbs in the Arc – meaning on that line of form Estrange is a big player.
Waardah is interesting too – winning her last three and has been freshened up.
But all wins have been on some degree of ‘soft’ ground – which is the worry and is trying this 1m4f for the first time having remarkably won over 1m, 1m2f and 1m6f in her career to date.
Stalls 8 and 10 Have Done Well Recently
The better stall stats tell us ALL of 10 winners came from stalls 6+ and 9 of the last 10 between 8-12.
With the ‘hot stalls’ being 8 and 10, with two wins each since 2017.
Danielle has gate 8 and ONE LOOK stall 10, with the latter interesting – despite possible stamina concerns now upped in trip.
Her breeding (Gleneagles/Holy Salt) suggests this 1m4f distance might be in question, but has been running well over 1m2f to suggest it’s worth a crack.
She was also supplemented earlier this week, which is a good sign connections feel her stamina will last out – with the better ground sure to help on that score too.
In a race with many questions I’ll put my faith in the higher draw stat again and chance this Paddy Twomey filly each-way.
🥇ONE LOOK (e/w)
🥈ESTRANGE
🥉KALPANAÂ
3:25 – Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored By Qipco) (Group 1) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m ITV
The bubble burst on Field Of Gold in the Sussex Stakes back at the end of July – but in his defence was found to be lame (4th).
He’s had 80 days to recover and could very easily bounce back. But I’d prefer to see him race first and 21 of the last 23 winners of this finished in the top three last time out.
I’ve lost faith in Rosallion, who is clearly classy but now a hard horse to win with – his last success now came at Royal Ascot in the St James’s Palace Stakes last June.
Fallen Angel is interesting and very much in form – winning three Group One races on the bounce, but is taking on the boys now.
That said, her times have been good and gets a handy 3lbs from the older colts. Don’t rule her out going in again.
But I also like NEVER SO BRAVE and DOCKLANDS here – both look over-priced to me.
Never So Brave beat Rosallion into 4th in the City Of York Stakes last time out over 7f, but for some reason is double the price.
He’s won over a mile before and was an easy winner of the Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap) at the Royal meeting in June.
There could be more to come and Oisin Murphy is yet to lose on him (2-2).
The other pick Docklands simply loves Ascot – he’s probably a 6-8lbs better horse here for some reason and has form figures at the Berkshire track that read 1-1-3-2-2-2-1.
He’s another that’s already beaten Rosallion this season – when taking the Queen Anne Stakes in June – form that surely makes him value at a double-figure price.
🥇NEVER SO BRAVE
🥈DOCKLANDS
🥉FALLEN ANGELÂ
4:05 – Qipco Champion Stakes (Group 1) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m2f ITV
Aidan O’Brien has only won the Champion Stakes once – which came in 2019 with Magical – so he’ll be trying to double his tally here with Delacroix.
While John Gosden has two wins (both with the same horse, Cracksman). He could add a third with Ombudsman.
But the draw for me on Ombudsman is the worry (9) – with six of the last nine coming from 5 or lower. As is the quicker ground that could blunt his turn-of-foot.
Delacroix is okay regarding the draw though in gate 4. But the other main runner – Calandagan in 7 might have some concerns.
You really can make cases for all the top three in the market – and also pick holes in them.
Only £7k In Prize Money Won Between Ombudsman and Delacroix
This is backed up with the Ombudsman vs Delacroix profile stats – as they tell us there’s not a lot in it.
Both have won six races, both two Group Ones and both four times over this 1m 2f trip.
There’s even just £7k between the two in total prize money won.
And Calandagan, who was second last year, is certainly a player – coming here off the back of two Group One wins and let’s not forget he’s this season’s King George winner.
But on this faster ground – will Ombudsman and DELACROIX just have too much pace for him? We’ll see.
The other unknown is the track for Delacroix, having never run here, whereas Calandagan and Ombudsman are both proven course winners.
That said, there is no reason to think Delacroix won’t handle Ascot and, you never know could even love it.
So, in a race of fine margins he gets the call in a fascinating and unmissable Champion Stakes.
While, we had a shock last year and if you are looking for another. Maybe Fox Legacy is the answer.
Yes, this former Stoute horse has loads to find on the ratings, but has improved a stack this season for switching to Andrew Balding and being gelded.
He loves this 1m2f trip and might just outrun his odds if taking another step forward and it’s interesting that connections think he’s worth a go in this company.
🥇DELACROIX
🥈CALANDAGAN
🥉FOX LEGACYÂ
4:40 – Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored by Qipco) Cl2 (3yo+) 1m ITV
A very tough race to end the card – with 20 runners heading to post.
So, some key stats could help.
9 of the last 11 winners carried between 9-1 and 9-5, while 8 of the last 11 were aged 4 or 5.
73% of the last 11 also came from stalls 10 of lower and 60% from just 5 or lower.
Trainer John Gosden has never won the race, but had five seconds. He runs Fifth Column as he tries to break his duck in the race.
The David O’Meara Yard Have A Great RecordÂ
While the David O’Meara yard have a top record – with three wins since 2015 – he runs Bopedro, Cerulean Bay and THEORYOFEVERYTHING, who looks way over-priced at 50/1.
He was 5th of 12 last time at Goodwood just last Sunday to Cerulean Bay but is slightly better off and only had 8-12 in racing weight this time (9-10 before). Draw 6 looks okay too.
But the main picks are two others that fit the main stats and are drawn low – EBTS GUARD (1) and ARISAIG (4).Â
The former was a winner here on Shergar Cup day – with Cerulean Bay in second, but with the runner-up winning since Ebts Guard is actually 5lbs better off here.
Arisaig was 5th in that Shergar Cup race too and is 3lbs better off – she’s since run a blinder to be third in the G2 Celebration Mile and third in the Listed Rosemary Stakes at Newmarket.
Back into a handicap here makes life easier for this Charlie Johnston runner and has eight top five finishes from her last nine starts, so is a very consistent filly.
Jamie Spencer, who often rides the straight course well here at Ascot, returns in the saddle.
🥇ARISAIG (e/w)
🥈EBTS GUARD
🥉THEORYOFEVERYTHINGÂ
Andy also has daily horse racing tips that give FOUR best bets in a Lucky 15 – this week he fired in a 45/1 four-timer with these.
Plus, you can follow Andy on his ‘X’ handle @NewtsDailyLays where he also picks out one horse each day to take on (lay) and follow him on The Final Furlong Podcast each week.
