British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes Runners & Riders  

Among five season-ending championships, the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes is exclusive to female horses. It is one of the two middle distance showpieces on what often proves British racing’s curtain call event and has helped to distinguish some star performers since its inception.

The runners and riders for the event can be found here as the race approaches the off.

Runners and riders to follow

Who are the Top Three Favourites to Win this Year’s British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes?

A set of runners usually separate themselves from the opposition as a big race approaches, and in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, there are three horses who have done so. The 1m4f can be a specialist distance, with enough stamina required to last home, with the following trio fancied to fare best after a long season.

Kalpana

The winner of this race a year ago, Kalpana has been frustrating to follow this year, though she has maintained her form at a high level. She was second in the King George and a highly respectable seventh in the Arc at the start of October. If fit after reappearing again so quickly after Longchamp, she could easily repeat her success of 12 months ago, having been dominant in 2024.

Estrange

Estrange had looked a highly promising filly last season, winning two of her three starts and impressing with the manner of her successes on soft ground. This year has been tougher despite an identical record, winning twice at Group level before put in her place in the Yorkshire Oaks by Arc runner-up Minnie Hauk. However, that is still a high level of form and any rain in the forecast would boost her chances immeasurably.

Waardah

The three-year-old Waardah is one of the least exposed types in the provisional line-up for the Fillies & Mares Stakes, but she is three from five in her career to date. Listed and Group 2 victories back-to-back at Goodwood over the summer have springboarded her to a new level here, but she could easily be progressive enough to have a say, with three-year-olds having such a good record in this race.

British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes Horse Entries & Selections

There is a maximum stipulated field of 19 runners in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, though a field narrowly above ten is the par for the contest. Horses will only become balloted out above the 19 threshold, although this is unlikely.

Three-year-olds receive a 6lb in weight from those aged four and upwards. This has evidently been put to good use given eight of the last ten winners have represented the youngest age group.

Andrew Mount and Matty Sutcliffe will be on hand shortly to provide their tips and selections in the race, as British Champions Day is now fast approaching. 

Which Trainers Have Historically Had the Most Success in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes?

It is John Dunlop, father of not one but two subsequent trainers like himself, who has trained the most fillies and mares to snare this prize. Impressively, his first and ninth winners spanned forty years, with Predicament having won in 1966, while Acts Of Grace completed his set in 2006.

Sir Michael Stoute is the closest to matching him having sent out seven winners of his own accord, the most recent being when Crystal Capella won her second edition of the race in 2010. When it comes to jockeys, Lester Piggott’s tally of eight sees him out on his own in this spectacle’s regard, though Frankie Dettori was creeping closer before his move to America, having amassed his sixth success with Emily Upjohn in 2022.

Runners & Riders Past Winners