Run in mid-October to summon the end of the flat season, the Champion Stakes is aptly named, run at the titular British Champions Day and crowning the star of the middle distance division in the UK that season. It is run over 1m2f, bringing together those who have excelled in a variety of divisions, and this is how they bet for the season-ending showpiece:

The 2026 Champion Stakes is run at 4.00pm on Saturday 17th October at Ascot. Compare the latest Champion Stakes odds below, along with the full racecard and the leading contenders in the betting.

2026 Champion Stakes Odds

16:00 Ascot

Qatar Racing Champion Stakes (Group 1)

• Going Good
• Distance 1m 1f 212y
• Class Class 1
• Race Type Flat Turf
• Surface Turf
• Runners 6
• Win Time 2m 4s

Prize Money

• 1st £737,230
• 2nd £279,500
• 3rd £139,880
• 4th £69,680
• 5th £34,970
• 6th £17,550

GG Edge Standard Compact

Win% is implied from the betting forecast

1st 5 (2) 4 tips Ombudsman OUR TIP W: 9st 7lb Age: 5 yo Colt

5/4 (Won)

J: William Buick T: John & Thady Gosden

OR: 132 RPR: 140 Form: 2-1114

GG Racing Score 83% Ability 10/10 Draw — Jockey 6/10 Trainer 7/10 Course 6.7/10 Distance 10/10

2nd 3 (4) 8 tips Calandagan W: 9st 7lb Age: 5 yo Gelding

5/2

J: Christophe Soumillon T: F-H Graffard

OR: 127 RPR: 138 Form: 1-1412

GG Racing Score 60% Ability 8/10 Draw — Jockey 2/10 Trainer 4/10 Course 10/10 Distance 4/10

3rd 2 (5) 1 tip Bay City Roller W: 9st 7lb Age: 4 yo Colt

17/2

J: Oisin Murphy T: George Scott

OR: 124 RPR: 132 Form: -22122

GG Racing Score 16% Ability 2/10 Draw — Jockey 4/10 Trainer 0/10 Course — Distance 0/10

4th 1 (1) 1 tip Almaqam W: 9st 7lb Age: 5 yo Colt

12/1

J: Kieran Shoemark T: Ed Walker

OR: 124 RPR: 134 Form: 3-1424

GG Racing Score 23% Ability 4/10 Draw — Jockey 0/10 Trainer 2/10 Course 1.7/10 Distance 2/10

5th 6 (3) Constitution River W: 9st 3lb Age: 3 yo Colt

9/2

J: Ryan Moore T: A P O’Brien

OR: 123 RPR: 135 Form: -11133

GG Racing Score 80% Ability 6/10 Draw — Jockey 10/10 Trainer 10/10 Course — Distance 8/10

6th 4 (6) Devils Advocate W: 9st 7lb Age: 4 yo Gelding

80/1

J: Robert Havlin T: John & Thady Gosden

OR: 109 RPR: 120 Form: 7-2477

GG Racing Score 38% Ability 0/10 Draw — Jockey 8/10 Trainer 7/10 Course 1.7/10 Distance 6/10

Non-runners

Best Secret

+o+e Betting Returns

	Payout
Exacta	£4.00
Straight Forecast	£4.42
Trifecta	£13.50

Selections

D Express:

Calandagan

Daily Mail:

Calandagan

Daily Mirror:

Calandagan

Daily Record:

Calandagan

NEWMARKET:

Ombudsman

POSTDATA:

Almaqam

RP RATINGS:

Ombudsman

SPOTLIGHT:

Ombudsman

TOPSPEED:

Bay City Roller

Telegraph:

Ombudsman

The Guardian:

Calandagan

The Star:

Calandagan

The Sun:

Calandagan

The Times:

Calandagan

Who are This Year’s Champion Stakes Favourites?

Defending champion Calandagan and last year’s runner-up Ombudsman dominate the betting. Calandagan has won the Dubai Sheema Classic and the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud this season, while Ombudsman has won the Dubai Turf and the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and is the top-rated runner on 132.

Our tip for the race is below, with the best odds available.

16:00 Qatar Racing Champion Stakes (Group 1)

Ombudsman

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Result

1st 5/4

Who are This Year’s Champion Stakes Underdogs?

Bay City Roller beat Calandagan in the Coronation Cup and was second in the Arc a fortnight ago, so he is no forlorn hope. Coral-Eclipse winner Constitution River is the only three-year-old in the field, and Almaqam completes the list of realistic outsiders.

Betting Strategies for the Champion Stakes

The Champion Stakes is a race which can be betted on in numerous ways. These are the most popular markets and factors which bettors on the race should take into account.

Outright Winner

Finding the winner is still the main priority for most punters when it comes to big races like the Champion Stakes. With 9/1, 12/1 and 10/1 winners from 2020-2022, there is good value to be had even in this market, and only one odds-on winner since 2013.

Each Way

In the last three seasons, two of the third-placed finishers have come in at 40/1 and 22/1, which would have been due reward for each-way backers who found Mac Swiney and My Prospero in the market. If you do not fancy the favourite, finding a Champion Stakes underdog with each-way terms can be just as profitable.

Draw Biases

There has not been too substantial a draw bias in the Champion Stakes over the years, although every renewal from 2021 onwards has seen a winner emerge from stall 4 or inwards.

Champion Stakes Odds of Past 10 Winners

Five of the last ten favourites have won the Champion Stakes, but only King Of Steel (2023) has obliged since 2020. Last year Calandagan beat the 13/8 favourite Ombudsman at 15/8.