QIPCO British Champions Day 2013 live on Channel 4

The QIPCO British Champions Series is poised to come to a thrilling conclusion at Ascot this Saturday and it will be shown live for the first time by Channel 4.

The third annual QIPCO British Champions Day is the climax of a 35-race series at ten British racecourses which began at Newmarket in May with the first Classic race of the season – the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas – and concludes with five compelling Championship races on one afternoon.

This year’s edition will be the richest day of horse racing ever staged in Britain with a record-breaking £3.4 million being contested at the finale.

A stellar international cast of equine stars is set to line up on the day, with one horse looking to inherit the crown won last year by Frankel, one of the greatest thoroughbred racehorses of all time, by winning the £1.3m QIPCO Champion Stakes at 4.05pm.

The highlight could be a thrilling fourth clash between Jim Bolger’s Dawn Approach and the Richard Hannon trained Toronado in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Also Cirrus Des Aigles, the great French gelding looks to go one better than last year’s epic defeat to Frankel in the Champion Stakes, while the Queen’s Estimate returns to the scene of her famous Gold Cup triumph for her Majesty in the Long Distance Cup.

The first two editions of British Champions Day in 2011 and 2012 were sensational occasions that will long live in the memory of racing fans.

In 2011, the mighty Frankel, the world’s greatest racehorse, maintained his unbeaten record with a breath-taking triumph in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and brilliant victories also for Cirrus des Aigles, Fame And Glory, Deacon Blues and Dancing Rain as the curtain came down in dramatic fashion on the inaugural QIPCO British Champions Series.

The following year was even better with Frankel returning to sign off his illustrious and still unbeaten career in the QIPCO Champion Stakes, defeating defending champion, Cirrus des Aigles, in brilliant style.

The other prizes all went across the Irish Sea with the brilliant Excelebration getting his moment in the spotlight in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Rite of Passge taking the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup, Maarek landing the QIPCO British Champions Sprint and Sapphire the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes.

A sell-out crowd of 32,000 – a modern day autumn Flat racing record in the UK – at Ascot last year created an amazing atmosphere and once again the vast majority rated it as their best ever raceday.

There are five separate Championship categories featured on British Champions Day and each of the five finals will be broadcast for the first time ever live on Channel 4.

Coverage from Ascot begins with the The Morning Line at 8.00am on Saturday morning, where Nick Luck and the Channel 4 Racing team are on hand with all the early news, betting, features and tips ahead of the gripping climax to the British flat racing season.

Three hours of live afternoon top class racing on Channel 4 starts at 1.30pm, presented by Clare Balding and Nick Luck.

The Channel 4 liveried studio has been granted a new unrivalled position directly above the Parade Ring and walk-back area from where race analysis will take place.

Jim McGrath and Graham Cunningham will offer their expertise from the studio, while on-course reports and interviews come from Emma Spencer.

Mick Fitzgerald is to be situated at the hub of the action with enhanced access to the jockeys changing room ahead of the championship races.

Tanya Stevenson and Brian Gleeson will have all the latest news and views from betting ring.

Commentary on all five live Channel 4 races will as ever be provided by Simon Holt.

Channel 4’s coverage will also incorporate an exclusive in-depth interview with Lady Cecil from Warren Place, further updates from Tattersalls sales combined with specific Ascot related montages and a report from the stables with overnighting horses.

Plus, reigning champion jockey Richard Hughes will wear a helmet camera for all his mounts during the day.

Thrilled with the opportunity to broadcast an initiative view of Ascot, Denise Large, director of programmes for Channel 4 Racing, explains: “Richard Hughes has been riding out all week wearing an approved helmet camera in preparation for the QIPCO British Champions Day.

“With the support of Jim Goldie and the Hannon family, Channel 4 viewers will be able to see the skill and tactics required for race riding – initiatives like this really help develop a greater understand of the sport and its superstars.

“The intention is to incorporate the footage within our post-race analysis and I would like to thank British Champions Series and the British Horseracing Authority who have helped us deliver this project.”

Further information, reports and race cards, plus live streaming and video content, can be found via the Channel 4 Racing website.

Dedicated racing channels At The Races and Racing UK will also screen live coverage of all six races from Ascot.

Saturday 19th October

The Morning Line

8.00am-9.00am  Channel 4

Channel 4 Racing: QIPCO British Champions Day

LIVE: 1.30pm-4.30pm  Channel 4