Champion Stakes Betting Odds
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:
Odds to follow
Who are This Year’s Champion Stakes Favourites?
The Champion Stakes favourites have done well for punters in previous years. This year’s renewal may well be no different given there have been some short-priced market leaders in recent times. The likes of Economics, Auguste Rodin and Calandagan, among others, all look to have this race circled in the calendar by their trainers, and any of them would be a worthy favourite for a race of this stature.
Who are This Year’s Champion Stakes Underdogs?
There will be numerous Champion Stakes underdogs according to the Ascot betting markets. Generally, unless a horse has made a serious impression and a trainer has highlighted this race as a target, the odds of every eventual contender will be 10/1 or above, making every prospective runner a valuable betting proposition if you believe they will run well in the Champion Stakes. Among that group at this stage are the likes of Goliath, Al Riffa and Opera Singer.
Last Year’s Champion Stakes Odds
In a competitive race, favourite King Of Steel narrowly emerged on top for his first Group 1 victory at odds of 3/1.
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 winners of the Champion Stakes have gone off as favourites, but either side of those, there have been champions at some juicy prices if some punters were brave enough to find them. In the three years preceding King Of Steel’s 3/1 triumph last season, the odds of every winner was between 9-12/1 as the table below shows.
| Year | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Odds |
| 2023 | King Of Steel | Roger Varian | Frankie Dettori | 3/1F |
| 2022 | Bay Bridge | Sir Michael Stoute | Richard Kingscote | 10/1 |
| 2021 | Sealiway | Cedric Rossi | Mickael Barzalona | 12/1 |
| 2020 | Addeybb | William Haggas | Tom Marquand | 9/1 |
| 2019 | Magical | Aidan O’Brien | Donnacha O’Brien | EvsF |
| 2018 | Cracksman | John Gosden | Frankie Dettori | 5/6F |
| 2017 | Cracksman | John Gosden | Frankie Dettori | 13/8F |
| 2016 | Almanzor | Jean-Claude Rouget | Christophe Soumillon | 11/8F |
| 2015 | Fascinating Rock | Dermot Weld | Pat Smullen | 10/1 |
| 2014 | Noble Mission | Lady Cecil | James Doyle | 7/1 |