Almanzor confirms himself as best in Europe

A British Champions Day featuring the greatest strength in depth also got its champion as Almanzor affirmed himself the leading horse in Europe with a Racing Post Rating of 129+ to land yesterday's feature.

Unbeaten since his reappearance and with progressive figures, this rates his best RPR yet as he confirmed Irish Champion Stakes superiority over Found. His profile suggests we have yet to see the best of him, and this new career-high came against the backdrop of a race that certainly wasn't run to produce big figures.

The admirable Found couldn't quite match her Arc-winning performance under adverse circumstances from her wide draw, but an RPR of 122 still rates among her best three career runs, which have come on her last three starts.

The Champion Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes were again clearly the strongest races on the card, with Minding adding lustre to her fine record to defeat a well-up-to-scratch field for yesterday's renewal of the mile championship.

Well-placed chasing the pace among the smaller centre group, the drop back to a mile proved of no concern as she showed good pace to assert from Ribchester over a furlong out – ultimately looking a little better than the bare form as she tired in the closing stages.

An RPR of 123+ rates her best yet for this seventh Group 1 success – and first against males – and cements her position as the leading three-year-old filly in Europe.

Ribchester continued his progress to emerge best of the rest. He joins Galileo Gold and The Gurkha on an RPR of 124, and, given his profile, it's not hard to see him ultimately rating the pick of them, with The Gurkha retired and Galileo Gold a well held, and again too keen, fifth yesterday.