Champions Day to have contingency plan on inside track again

Precautions are again being taken to counter the chance of Qipco British Champions Day being hit by the weather in October.

If the ground turns officially heavy in the run-up to the big day on October 21 the three races scheduled to be run on the round course would be switched to the inner track at the 72-hour stage ahead of declarations.

This contingency plan was first put in place last year to counter concerns that the feature Qipco Champion Stakes, as well as the upgraded Group 1 British Champions Fillies and Mares and the Long Distance Cup, could be compromised by heavy ground.

The inner track, which is not used or watered during the summer, looked brown and parched as usual at this time of year at last weekend's Ascot meeting, where the outer course was riding good to soft in places on the round course, while the straight course was good.

Race distances for the three round course races would change if moved to the inner track although it would be a mere eight yards for the Champions Stakes, 78 yards fewer in the fillies and mares and 82 yards fewer in the stayers' race.

Entries close on August 8 for these British Champion Series races on what Great British Racing has marketed as the Flat season's climax.

Last year a successful familiarisation exercise involved Ryan Moore and Pat Smullen riding round the inner Flat course to confirm its suitability for racing.

The official going was good to soft two years ago and good last year when the Champion Stakes, won by Almanzor, was rated the best race in Britain and was ranked fifth overall in the world.