Bookies spared mega payout on Frankie five-timer but Dettori mounts still proving popular

Frankie Dettori bids farewell to British racing on Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot this afternoon and bookmakers were running for cover after the jockey struck with Trawlerman in the opening Long Distance Cup.

However, the world famous jockey was narrowly beaten in the Champions Sprint with favourite Kinross to spare the bookies the payout on a potential five-timer that would have cost them millions.

Nevertheless, Dettori's remaining mounts are still proving popular with punters. He rides Free Wind, Classic winner Chaldean and King Of Steel in the Champion Stakes as he attempts to finish in style at the track he completed an unforgettable seven-timer in 1996.

Chaldean is now a general 7-1 chance having been 10-1 in most places this morning, while King Of Steel has also been cut to 5-2 (from 4-1).

Bookmakers were offering odds of 5,521-1 for Dettori to complete the five-timer and will therefore be relieved after Kinross was defeated by 40-1 shot Art Power in the Champions Sprint.

Paddy Power's Paul Binfield said: "The perms on Frankie’s 'last' rides at the scene of his most famous triumph, the magnificent seven, were what was giving our traders sleepless nights.

"Andrew Balding was saying that he thought he had Chaldean back to his early season form and King Of Steel hasn’t run a bad race all term and wasn’t beaten far over this trip at Leopardstown."

Updated at 2pm

Mostahdaf out of Champion Stakes

The Champion Stakes has lost one of its big hitters after the favourite Mostahdaf was withdrawn due to the ground.

The Juddmonte International and Prince of Wales's Stakes winner had shot to the head of the market for the £1.3 million feature when the race was switched to the inner course to avoid heavy ground on the round track, but connections decided conditions were still too testing for him to take his chance.

King Of Steel now heads the market at a general 5-2, with Bay Bridge 7-2 and Horizon Dore 9-2.

Posted at 2.20pm

Lattam gains support for concluding Balmoral Handicap

The William Haggas-trained Lattam has come in for support in the Balmoral Handicap and is now available at 8-1 with Betfred, having being 14-1 in places overnight.

The four-year-old, who will be ridden by Cieren Fallon, left it late to strike in the Irish Lincolnshire on his return this season and also won on the all-weather at Newcastle in June. He was last seen finishing fifth of 12 in a mile handicap at York earlier this month.

Betfred spokesman Matt Hulmes said: "In terms of the day-of-the-race markets, there is no doubt punters are expecting to see at least one Frankie flying dismount today with his opening two rides, Trawlerman and Kinross, being the subject of strong support.

"There has also been a wide spread of money in both the Fillies & Mares and the Balmoral, the two wide-open contests on the card, with Lattam being backed from 16-1 into single figures in the final race of the day.

"Both the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Champion Stakes have been the quietest markets so far, but I expect they will explode once racing gets underway."

Updated at 12.30pm

'We've been pretty lucky' - Ascot clerk pleased with track conditions

Qipco British Champions Day takes centre stage at AscotCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Ascot clerk of the course Chris Stickels provided a positive update on track conditions before Qipco British Champions Day as the going was unchanged from Friday due to only a small amount of rain falling overnight.

The first of six top-class races begins at 1.15, with the card featuring four Group 1 contests, including the Champion Stakes (3.45).

Stickels said: "We're soft on the straight course and good to soft, soft in places on the inner Flat course. We could get occasional showers at anytime, but we've only had 0.2mm of rain since yesterday and we've been pretty lucky."