Ascot confirms Champion Stakes will be run on jumps course

The Qipco Champion Stakes will be run on a newly-demarcated inner course at Ascot on October 15, it was confirmed yesterday, as track officials seek to ensure the best possible ground for the end-of-season feature.

The move from the outer course to the inner track, usually saved for jump racing, means the start of the flagship race on British Champions Day will be moved back approximately 80 yards, resulting in a longer run to the first bend, potentially negating the impact of the draw.

Since the first running of Champions Day at Ascot in 2011, when the going was good, soft ground has prevailed, with the result that many big guns have bypassed the fixture.