'If Baaeed doesn't win, we're 33-1' - William Haggas on trainers' title bid

William Haggas knows if he is to have any chance of overhauling Charlie Appleby and being crowned champion trainer for the first time, he will need the unbeaten Baaeed to win Saturday's Qipco Champion Stakes (4.00).

But while he admitted to indulging in some good-natured chat with Appleby, Haggas is also wary of a late run at the title from John and Thady Gosden.

Haggas has never made any secret of the fact he is extremely competitive, but he told a Qipco British Champions Day media call that winning the title had only become important to him once he felt he had a realistic chance.

"It's never really been something I've hankered for until about two months ago," said Haggas. "We're so close and we've got a chance. John [Gosden] is still a very powerful operation and Charlie obviously is an extremely powerful operation and he just has so many good horses.

William Haggas: 'If Baaeed doesn't win then we're 33-1 for the title'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"It's an achievement for us and I'm very proud of all of us, with what we've done, to get this close. The simple fact is that if Baaeed doesn't win, we're 33-1 to win the title, probably 133-1. But, if he does win, it could be interesting."

On Thurday afternoon Haggas was trailing Appleby by a little under £80,000 in total prize-money for the year – both men have sailed passed £5 million for the year – while the Gosdens have more than £850,000 to make up. But the prize-money on offer on Saturday could tip the balance any one of three ways.

"It's rather fun because Charlie's got lots of chances and you can never write John off. If Trawlerman wins – which isn't a million – and then Emily Upjohn or Mimiyku wins and then Inspiral, he's right in amongst us. It's going to go down to the wire.

"Apart from the Vertem Futurity there's very little between now and the end of the year and Champions Day is probably going to make a big difference. We're obviously trying because we've got an opportunity."

Haggas is relishing the unexpected opportunity to have a run at the title and revealed that Appleby – who won the championship for the first time in 2021 – is entering into the spirit of it as well.

Haggas said: "We had four winners on Monday and I got a call from Charlie at about 7.30. He said, 'I just sat down to see who's won a few races and I saw you had four winners. So instead of having a dandelion and burdock, I'm now drinking a glass of wine'."

Charlie Appleby holds a narrow lead over William Haggas in the race to be champion trainerCredit: Edward Whitaker

Haggas added: "We can't beat him I'm afraid but we're going to try. It's a subplot to Saturday. Qipco Chanpions Day should be a real highlight for us and I think it is for all of us in racing.

"We have Royal Ascot and we have this finale after lots of fantastic festivals during the summer. It looks like there are decent horses coming here and it also looks unlikely the ground is going to be a game changer, which is good for everyone."

Great British Racing this week underlined its ambition to have the trainers' title decided at the Ascot finale, ending the count on the same day that William Buick will be crowned champion jockey.

Should the Somerville Lodge team prevail at the end of December, Haggas would be the third different trainer to land the title in three seasons, following Gosden in 2020 and Appleby in 2021.

The prize has been decided over a full calendar year since 2016, during which time three yards have won, with Aidan O'Brien landing his fifth and sixth British titles in the first two years of the new format, before Gosden won three times between 2018 and 2020.

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