British Champions Day, the official end of the British Flat racing season, is next Saturday (21st October 2023) and never fails to excite, bringing together the very best horses of the season and crowning the final champions.

This guide will take you through the main races of the day and their most likely contenders.

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Predictions for Qipco British Champions

Top Contenders for the Qipco British Champions Title

Currently top of the overall British Champions series leaderboard is the 128-rated Mostahdaf, the winner of the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York this season.

Sitting behind Mostahdaf on the leaderboard is Hukum in second place, Westover in third, Paddington in fourth and Triple Time in fifth.

Dark Horses to Watch Out For

Nashwa, who is currently seventh on the leaderboard, has had a terrific season, having won the G1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket, been second to Mostahdaf in the Juddmonte International, ahead of the favourite Paddington, and produced the fastest split of them all when running third in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes. She could well creep up the rankings after British Champions Day.

Qipco Champion Stakes – 21st October 2023

The Champion Stakes is the feature race of Champions Day, and can send the winner into real stardom as all runners have proved themselves worthy of greatness all season long. The winner of this race really can be said to be the best of the best. The race being held in October, though, can lead to much softer ground than in the summer months, throwing up some surprise results.

Three-year-old King Of Steel will have had a good break by the time of this race, and is versatile ground-wise having run well on soft ground in the past. If back to his very best, he could be the winner here.

Bay Bridge must also enter considerations having run to his credit on a variety of ground this year, and having unexpectedly won this race last year. He likes the track at Ascot, and his trainer – Sir Michael Stoute – has trained the winner of this race three times previously.

Aidan O’Brien’s Continuous must also be taken seriously, going on any ground and winning this year’s G1 St Leger, then going on to run a creditable fifth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Bet on Qipco Champion Stake 2023/2024 at William Hill

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – 21st October 2023

Despite winning only one of her six runs this season, Nashwa has put up some remarkable performances in defeat, holding her own against colts brilliantly. This will be her first run at Ascot, but the track ought to suit her and she can cope with some rain. She has already beaten the likes of Paddington, and should come here fresh enough to make her presence duly felt.

Paddington’s season has been unbelievable, with six consecutive wins against both his own age group and older horses. He had, perhaps, had one race too many when finishing an unexpected third in the Juddmonte International at York’s Ebor meeting, but has now had two months off and should be able to bounce back to his best.

Tahiyra – already a winner at Ascot – has been consistent this season and no matter what the conditions, has never being seen outside the first two home. Having now won the G1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown against older horses, she should have a real chance here, but takes on colts for the first time.

Bet on Queen Elizabeth II Stakes 2023/2024 at William Hill

Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes – 21st October 2023

Harry and Roger Charlton’s Time Lock could be in with a chance here, having won the G3 Dubai Stakes at Newmarket by over four lengths. She will have to prove herself in this G1 company, but showed real ability in that race, and Ascot is a comparable track to Newmarket so ought to suit her.

Aidan O’Brien’s Jackie Oh, last seen running a very close second to Blue Rose Cen in the G1 Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp, should be high up in considerations, provided that she gets her preferred soft ground. She steps up in trip here, but that could be what she needs in order to get her head in front.

Ralph Beckett’s Bluestocking should also be considered, having finished a brilliant second to Savethelastdance in the G1 Irish Oaks at the Curragh in July. Going best on softer ground, which she is likely to get here, she could be a real player.

Bet on Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes 2023/2024 at William Hill

Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes – 21st Oct 2023

Shaquille, who has had a fantastic season, rising 26 pounds in the handicap from four consecutive wins, goes on any ground and, despite disappointing on his last run at Haydock, that performance was too bad to be true so can be ruled out. He has had plenty of time off now and should be ready to strike here at a track he has done so well on in the past.

Mill Stream could be in contention having loved the softer ground in France, where he won both the Listed Prix Moonlight Cloud and G3 Prix de Meautry over this distance. Rarely seen outside the placings, this son of Gleneagles could be competitive.

Sandrine was most impressive when last seen winning the G2 Park Stakes at Doncaster and is a course and distance winner having won the G3 Albany Stakes at Ascot in 2021. Softer ground has seen some of her best performances, and she has held her own against colts on numerous occasions in the past, so must be respected.

Bet on Qipco British Champions Sprint Stake 2023/2024 at William Hill

Ready to Bet on Qipco British Champions Racing?

Follow These Steps:

Step 1: Accessing the Latest Ascot Tips

Tips for British Champions Day can be found here and in our Ambassador blogs closer to Champions Day.

Step 2: Analysing the Tips for Each Day

It’s important to make your own judgement when reading tips, which can be a useful guide. Always refer back to the form when reading tips, so to better understand the tip itself and also to weigh up any other options.

Step 3: Placing Your Bets

Place your for British Champions Day here.

Step 4: Watching and Winning

The most exciting part! You can watch British Champions Day on ITV, in a William Hill shop or at Ascot itself.

Check Horse Racing Future Races at William Hill

Euro 2024 will be held in Germany from June 14 to July 14, 2024. We’re in the early stages of qualifications with no more than two games being played per side.

In total 24 will participate in the tournament, and 23 of those sides will come through the qualification process. As hosts, Germany automatically qualifies. 

We’re a year out from one of soccer’s most important tournaments – and with lots of qualifying matches left to play – but let’s take an early look at the odds board and who’s favored to win.

Odds to Win 2024 Euro

Odds as of June 13

Why Is France Favored to Win Euro 2024?

On an international level, the French are the second-best side. Les Bleus were runners-up at the 2022 World Cup. On that World Cup journey in Qatar, France took out some strong European opponents.

They bested Denmark 2-1 in the group stage (the Danish hold the ninth-best Euro odds), Poland in the Round of 16 by a score of 3-1 (Poland is at +5000 for Euro 2024) and then France dispatched the English 2-1 in the Quarter-Finals (England is third on Euro odds board).

Through the short qualification period, France is 2-0-0 with a +5 goal differential while keeping two clean sheets with wins over Ireland and the Netherlands. 

Star power is another big factor to consider, and the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge have the biggest star of them all in Kylian Mbappe. The PSG forward has no flaws in his game and dominates at every level. 

🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappe has only played in two World Cups in his illustrious career:

✅ 2018 World Cup:
👕 7 games
⚽️ 4 goals
🏆 Champions
🏅 Best YP

✅ 2022 World Cup:
👕 7 games
⚽️ 8 goals
🎯 2 assists
🥈 Runners-up
🥇 Golden Boot

Incredible. 👏🏽🔥 pic.twitter.com/SoBokcdQRU

— Sholy Nation Sports (@Sholynationsp) June 6, 2023

In Qatar, Mbappe scored the most goals (8), lead the tournament in goal-creating actions with 11 (five more than the next best-player) and was third for goal-creating actions per 90 (1.74). When it comes to unlocking a game there’s no better player in Europe or even the world than Mbappe.

Euro 2024 Value 

France enters the tournament as slight favorites, what sides have greater value and have a chance to win instead of the favorites?

Germany

The hosts are just behind France on the oddsboard at +550. Because of their host status, we don’t have any sense of the form their in. They haven’t played any games because they don’t need to qualify.

If not for a shock 2-1 loss to Japan in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, Germany would have likely gone much further. They bounced back from that defeat to the Blue Samurai with a 1-1 draw with a strong Spanish side before dismantling Costa Rica 4-2 to close out their tournament. 

The Germans will hope that youngster Jamal Musiala builds off a strong World Cup where he was credited with 7.67 shot-creating actions per 90 and an even better 22-23 Bundesliga campaign where he scored 12 goals and had ten assists for Bayern in his 19-year-old season. The kid is only going to get much better.

England

The English are the top-ranked side in Group C of Euro qualifiers with wins over Ukraine (2-0) and Italy (2-1).

Gareth Southgate’s side is winning games they should (against Ukraine) and those where they’re second best (vs Italy). Against the Azzurri, England only had 42% of the possession and 42% of the shots, they even went down a man in the 80th minute thanks to a Luke Shaw red card and still won 2-1. 

With Southgate’s contract over in December of 2024, this will likely be his final major tournament. His sides have come close to glory a few times but never won a title. Sadly for the three lions, their returns have been diminishing for the last few years.

2024 Euro Dark horse

Every Euro tournament has its dark horse. A team comes out of nowhere and makes a deep run and upsets the landscape. 

In 2020, that was the Swiss who finished third in Group A and made it to the Quarter-Finals after beating France in the Round of 16.

Who should you have your eyes on in 2024?

Netherlands

The Dutch are no strangers to this competition. They won it once in 1988 and placed third four times. That last third-place finish came in 2004. 

At the 2022 World Cup, the Flying Dutchmen finished fourth with the third youngest squad in the competition. They had an average age of 26. Forward Cody Gakpo was a revelation with three goals in five matches for the Oranje in Qatar. 

Three World Cup games, three goals. Cody Gakpo, literally flying. ⭐️🇳🇱 #Qatar2022 #QatarWorldCup2022 pic.twitter.com/Eeb0FHuqwm

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 29, 2022

There’s a lot to like about Holland. At +1400, keep an eye on their qualifying. 

Croatia

The Croatians are at the top of Group D with four points in two qualifiers. Remember, they finished as runners-up at the 2018 World Cup and then third in Qatar. Never discount Croatia at a major international tournament. With +3500 odds you could make $350 on a $10 bet backing them this early. That’s very tempting. 

Last Five Euro Winners

Favorites typically win this tournament. They have deep squads overflowing with some of the most talented players in all of Europe. But every few years a dark horse goes all the way and is crowned Kings of Europe.

At +15000 Greece, and those who bet on them, haven’t yet forgotten about that tournament in 2004.

Last Five Euro Runners-Up 

*After extra time
**Game tied 1-1 after extra time, ended 3-2 in penalties

The Euro finals are a low-scoring affair. Over the last five tournaments, three or more goals have been scored only once. It’s worth exploring the UNDER when the Final comes up in July of 2024.

How to Read Euro 2024 Odds

At any soccer betting site, you’ll see futures odds laid out like so:

If you were to make a traditional straight-up bet, the favorite would be shown with the minus sign (-). In cases like these where there is no clear front-runner, the country with the lowest odds is the fave even if they’re all represented with the plus sign (+) which is generally used to demonstrate underdogs.

Let’s say you’ve looked at the group schedule and think Belgium is going to dominate and make it all the way to the top. A $100 bet would give you a payout of $650 – your original money is returned coupled with your winnings of $550.

Our Odds Calculator is a tool that will tell you how much you’d win based on the offered odds and amount bet.

What is a Futures Bet on the Euro Championship?

A futures bet is a wager made far in advance of a big event. Here, the bet is on the quadrennial Euro contest. It can be said that most bets are made prior to a sporting matchup, but futures can be placed weeks, months or even years in advance. In fact, as soon as the last championship is won, new odds will be released.

The odds will shift as the group stage gets closer and continue to move until right before the final is played on July 14, 2024, at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. If you see odds you like, take them to get the most value on your bets (should you win).