Picture special - horse racing's top stars enjoy Champions Day at Ascot

It's become a much-anticipated fixture on the flat-racing calendar - Champions Day at Ascot.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

And the 2019 renewal didn't disappoint as many of the season's top horses did battle for honours.

It was a memorable day for many, including Aidan and O'Brien and Donnacha O'Brien,who teamed up for a notable double.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In the surprise of the day, they took the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup when Kew Gardens(7/2) beat the John Gosden-trained Stradivarius, who'd been the 8/13 favourite.

Oisin Murphy with his champion jockey trophy / Picture by Malcolm WellsOisin Murphy with his champion jockey trophy / Picture by Malcolm Wells
Oisin Murphy with his champion jockey trophy / Picture by Malcolm Wells

The O'Briens had more success with evens-favourite Magical in the Qipco Champion Stakes.

Elsewhere Donjuan Triumphant took the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes at 33/1, Star Catcher won the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, King Of Change was a 12/1 winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Escobar won the Balmoral Handicap at 16/1.

Another big winner of the day was Oisin Murphy, crowned champion flat jockey for the season for the first - and probably not the last - time.

See Malcolm Wells' pictures from a great day in the slideshow above