British Champions Sprint Stakes Betting Tips

One of the four Group 1s run on British Champions Day, the British Champions Sprint is the speed feature of the curtain-drawing day at Ascot. It is run over 6f of the royal venue, and usually attracts the biggest field of any of the top level contests run on the day.

It took on its current guise in 2011, being renamed from the former Group 2 Diadem Stakes, and was moved to its current position in the calendar at the same time. From 2015 onwards, it moved up to Group 1 status, crowning its inaugural winner at that level, Muhaarar, at that renewal.

The 2024 running will doubtless be as competitive as all those staged in recent years. Here are Andrew Mount and Matty Sutcliffe’s tips for the race.

Tips to follow

Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes Favourites Runners & Form

Kinross narrowly failed to justify odds of 5/4 when second a year ago, but before him there had been no favourite whose odds were shorter than 3/1 since 2017. This is usually a very open race, and Ralph Beckett’s charge, now in his sixth season of racing, could take prominent order once again having won this in 2022 and often finding his peak form late in the season.

He was one of a number of horses who trailed home Mill Stream in the July Cup at Newmarket. Jane Chapple-Hyam’s four-year-old has developed into a highly consistent sprinter at the top level, even though there was an element of disappointment when he finished fifth in France trying to back up that success.

The year younger Kind Of Blue has been very consistent in defeat this season, but may well be improving, as may Montassib, the shock winner of the Sprint Cup at Haydock.

British Champions Sprint Stakes Racecourse 

As with every race under the British Champions banner at the end of the season, the Sprint is run at Ascot in mid-October. This has often seen the meeting run on soft ground in recent years, with 2016 the last renewal of this race not to feature the term “soft” in the going description.

The 6f course is completely straight, leading to a dash in nature. The round course is often described as quite challenging relative to others, and that applies to the sprint track too, which is broadly uphill within the last three furlongs of the race. Combined with soft ground, it can pay to side with a horse whose staying power can last beyond 6f.

The emphasis is still on speed though and, as with any racetrack over smaller distances, ensures that being up with the pace is still preferable.

Betting Strategies for the British Champions Sprint Stakes

The British Champions Sprint is a rare Group 1 in which a big field can almost always be counted upon. This lends itself to a bigger variety of bets, including the following.

Each Way

Art Power would have doubly rewarded each-way backers a year ago, as this bet ensures you back a horse to win and to place. Therefore, even if he had not won, he would have landed you winnings had he finished in the first three or four (or potentially more depending on bookmaker each-way extras). An even better example came in 2022, when 150/1 shot Run To Freedom was second; at ⅕ of the odds, as is custom nowadays, each-way backers would have experienced the equivalent of a 30/1 winner.

Non Runner No Bet

Even though there is usually a sizeable line-up to enjoy, some horses will not make it to the race having been entered from an early stage. Backing ante-post with Non Runner No Bet terms means you will get your stake back if your fancy does not run in the contest come the day.

Without the Favourite

When Run To Freedom finished second at 150/1, Kinross won as favourite at 3/1. However, some bookmakers will have offered “without the favourite” markets, meaning you win if your horse wins the race, or finishes second to the favourite. This would have guaranteed an even bigger payout for Run To Freedom backers than just an each-way bet.

Are There Any Specific British Champions Sprint Stakes Betting Offers?

British Champions Day will have a lot of offers applied to the entire card. Some of these may be specific to the British Champions Sprint, although the majority will apply to the day as a whole, We will find out which bookies are offering out free bonuses as the meeting nears.

British Champions Sprint Stakes Trends & Historic Data

Since becoming a Group 1, and due to there being numerous runners each season, this has not been a profitable race for favourite backers, with only two successful since 2019, amounting to a 3.5-point loss should you have sided with them. Five horses have won at double-figure odds in that time, including 2023’s shock winner Art Power at a whopping 40/1. He had been favourite for the race two years prior.

It is also very difficult to pinpoint an age which is beneficial since the change of class. Three three-year-olds, three six-year-olds, two five-year-olds and a four-year-old have won, so stray away from the veterans in the race. However, this does not rule too many out each year. Taking a broader look at history, the Classic generation has excelled, but when tasked with Group 1 rules, it has been tougher for them.

There is equally little to rule out in terms of personnel. Nine top level renewals of the race have been claimed by nine different trainers, and only the retired Paul hanagan has won it twice in that span.

British Champions Sprint Stakes Past Winners

Year	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Odds
2023	Art Power	Tim Easterby	David Allan	40/1
2022	Kinross	Ralph Beckett	Frankie Dettori	3/1F
2021	Creative Force	Charlie Appleby	William Buick	11/2
2020	Glen Shiel	Archie Watson	Hollie Doyle	16/1
2019	Donjuan Triumphant	Andrew Balding	Silvestre De Sousa	33/1
2018	Sands Of Mali	Richard Fahey	Paul Hanagan	28/1
2017	Librisa Breeze	Dean Ivory	Robert Winston	10/1
2016	The Tin Man	James Fanshawe	Tom Queally	13/2
2015	Muhaarar	Charles Hills	Paul Hanagan	5/2F
2014	Gordon Lord Byron *	Tom Hogan	Wayne Lordan	5/1J