Champion Stakes 2022: Who will win, top tips, horses, race time, how to watch

Scott Allen
14 October 2022

Planet Sport have all you need to know about the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, October 15.

The Champion Stakes is part of Champions Day at Ascot, which is the finale to the Flat racing season in the UK.

There's £4million in prize money on offer spread across six world-class races, which include four Group 1s and a Group 2.

When is the Champion Stakes?

The feature race of the day is the one mile one furlong Champion Stakes which starts at 1600 (BST).

ITV will be showing all six races from Ascot, with the opener, the British Champions Long Distance Cup at 1325.

The other big races are the British Champions Sprint Stakes (1400), British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (1440), Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (1520) and the Balmoral Handicap (1640).

Champion Stakes runners and riders

Adayar

Trainer - Charlie Appleby Jockey - William Buick

Last year's Derby and King George hero made a faultless return against inferior rivals at Doncaster last month, a result that proved little more than his enthusiasm and ability remain intact.

A worthy adversary for Baaeed, but likely to be found out for speed in the finish over the 10-furlong trip.

Stars out of ten - 8

Baaeed

Trainer - William Haggas Jockey - Jim Crowley

The best since the legendary Frankel bowed out 10 years ago, it will be a huge surprise if Baaeed cannot sign off here with an unblemished record and realise a season-long plan.

He thrived for the move up to 10 furlongs in the Juddmonte International at York and although any significant softening of the ground would be a negative, realistically this peerless performer is unopposable.

Stars out of ten - 10

Bay Bridge

Trainer - Sir Michael Stoute Jockey - Richard Kingscote

Off the track since finishing fifth in the Eclipse, some cut in the Ascot going would almost certainly be in his favour.

He has had just two starts at Group One level so far and will need a huge step forward, from a long lay off, if he is to cause a shock, but at his best he should be in the mix.

Stars out of ten - 7

Dubai Honour

Trainer - William Haggas Jockey - James Doyle

Second in the race last year, he has not had his conditions all season and suffered a disappointing reverse when dropped to Group Three company at Kempton last time out.

With Haggas hunting the trainers' championship and fielding the hot favourite, you have to assume he is seeking place money only.

Stars out of ten - 5

Helvic Dream

Trainer - Noel Meade Jockey - Oisin Orr

A Group One winner in last year's Tattersalls Gold Cup, he never looked like repeating that success when coming home last in this year's renewal.

Off the track since May, he looks well short of the required level.

Stars out of ten - 3

Mac Swiney

Trainer - Jim Bolger Jockey - Kevin Manning

Winless since striking Irish 2,000 Guineas gold last May, he came home a creditable third after a less than ideal passage in this race last year.

He has not run to that kind of mark in two starts this term, but totally not out of the question he could grab a slice of the placed cash at massive odds for his shrewd handler.

Stars out of ten - 6

Royal Champion

Trainer - Roger Varian Jockey - Jack Mitchell

Hacked up by five lengths on his first attempt in Listed company at Ayr, but it is a fair distance from beating the admirable Euchen Glen to toppling Baaeed. A bit of a wildcard, though.

Stars out of ten - 6

My Prospero

Trainer - William Haggas Jockey - Tom Marquand

Winner of a French Group Two in July, his trainer was upbeat on his claims earlier in the week.

A post-race slip has kept him on the sidelines since July, but he is highly rated by his team and relatively unexposed.

Stars out of ten - 7

Stone Age

Trainer - Aidan O'Brien Jockey - Ryan Moore

Ran well enough in the Irish Champion Stakes, but yet to strike at the highest level and this does not look the place to break his Group One duck.

Stars out of ten - 5

Who is going to win the Champion Stakes?

While everything points to victory for Baaeed, this has turned out to be more competitive on paper than it looked like being at one stage.

That is chiefly down to the presence of Adayar. He looked silky smooth on his comeback at Doncaster, and with a bit of luck he can really give the favourite something to think about. An epic battle with the pair well clear would only help Baaeed's legacy.

Bay Bridge is best of the rest if he can rediscover the form he showed earlier in the year.