For Immediate Release
Thursday, 28 July, 2016
INNER FLAT COURSE CONFIRMED FOR
QIPCO CHAMPION STAKES
Ahead of entries closing for QIPCO British Champions Day on Tuesday, 2nd August
2016, British Champions Series and Ascot today confirm that the Group 1 QIPCO
Champion Stakes will be run on a newly demarcated Inner Flat Course on
Saturday, 15th October 2016 which, it is anticipated, will deliver the best possible
ground available.
The change will also see the start of the race move back approximately 80yards
allowing for a longer run into the first bend, with potential reduction to the
significance of the draw.
Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Communications at Ascot, said: “Supported by
the BHA, we believe that it is in the best interests of fairness and clarity to make
this decision now. Changing the course at the five-day stage or at declarations
runs the risk of upsetting connections, and indeed punters, by actively deciding to
favour certain parties over others.
"Making the decision now means that everyone knows that the surface will, in all
likelihood, be a degree quicker than might ordinarily be the case. They can plan
accordingly from the start - the initial entry fee payment stage.
"Of course making a late call on which course will be used without any guarantee
of what the weather might do, even at 48 hours, is not palatable - we had 30mm
of rain in the 24 hours before last year's King George (good to firm became soft).
We are confident that this decision not only offers connections greater clarity, but
is in the best interest of the race itself.”
Ruth Quinn commented: “The BHA directive for Flat racing is always to race on
the best possible ground available (aiming for good to firm). Making a late decision
about which course to run the Champion Stakes on is likely to court controversy
and this approach presented by Ascot is a sensible and pragmatic one. The BHA
Inspectorate, along with the PJA Safety Officer, have approved the change and we
feel that this option presents the greatest scope to improve the quality of the race,
now and in the future."
John Gosden added: “I understand the decision taken by the team at Ascot and
British Champions Series at the entry stage of the intention to run the Champion
Stakes on an Inner Flat Course. Having spoken to the Ascot course management,
if the day is to continue to attract the best horses and following confirmation that
the covers project is unachievable, this seems like a viable solution.
“It will be interesting to see how the course itself rides and I will definitely be
taking some horses to Ascot to see how they handle it, nearer the time. I have
previously stated my views on the draw bias that the Champion Stakes is currently
affected by on the Outer Flat Course and the switch to the Inner Flat Course could
help reduce it which is positive.”
Ed Dunlop said: “The confirmation to run the Champion Stakes on an Inner Flat
Course at this early stage is the right decision. A late switch is likely to incur bad
will from horsemen and the betting public and this way there is clarity. Hopefully
the new course will allow the race to be run on the best ground possible.”
As previously referenced there is the possibility going forward that the QIPCO
British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes and QIPCO British Champions Long
Distance Cup could also transfer to the Inner Flat Course. However, slight distance
changes would be required to produce ideal positions for their starts, which would
need European Pattern Committee approval. This rules out the possibility of any
changes to those races for 2016.
There will be an opportunity for horsemen to walk and ride the Inner Flat Course
in advance of QIPCO British Champions Day as a familiarisation exercise.
In the event of firm ground, with welfare paramount, the Outer Flat Course would
be used.
*** Ends ***
For further information:
 Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Communications, Ascot: 07771 791449
 Chris Stickels, Clerk of the Course, Ascot: 07970 621440
 Harriet Collins, Head of PR, British Champions Series: 07827 957 113
Notes to Editors
The surface of the Inner Flat Course will not have been raced on since April,
2016.
Going comparison readings 2016
Date
24/04/16
Outer Flat Course
good to soft (6.4)
09/06/16
good to firm, good in places
(watered, 7.8)
Inner Flat Course
good, good to firm in
places (7.6)
hard (no reading
possible)
About QIPCO British Champions Series
The QIPCO British Champions Series is designed to throw the spotlight on Britain’s
best Flat races and will climax on 15 October 2016 with the richest fixture in British
racing history, QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot.
The Series features 35 Flat races staged at ten of the UK’s leading racecourses:
Ascot, Doncaster, Epsom Downs, Goodwood, Haydock Park, Newbury,
Newmarket’s July Course, Newmarket’s Rowley Mile, Sandown Park and York.
It encompasses the top races at British racing’s key festivals, including the QIPCO
Guineas Festival at Newmarket, the Investec Derby Festival at Epsom, Royal
Ascot, the Newmarket July Festival, The Qatar Goodwood Festival, the Welcome
to Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York and the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival at
Doncaster.