QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1) - all the news & quotes

Published 2020/10/17

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Just 35 minutes after winning recording her first QIPCO British Champions Day success, Hollie Doyle added a first G1 victory to her CV as Glen Shiel (16/1) held on by a nose in a thrilling finish to the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes.

The six-year-old Glen Shiel was soon at the head of the affairs and took the 16-strong field along before being headed entering the final furlong by Oxted.

However, the son of Pivotal rallied gamely to regain the lead and stayed on to repel the late challenge of Brando by a nose.

This was a first QIPCO British Champions Day victory for trainer Archie Watson. Doyle, who was recording a 203/1 QIPCO British Champions Day double, said:

"This is not about me, it's about Archie Watson, as he has campaigned this horse unbelievably. No one else would have won a G1 with this horse.

"It is a dream come true, a massive dream come true, especially on this horse. Everyone in the yard adores him.

"We got him out of Andre Fabre's and we ran him over 10 furlongs. Archie kept stepping him back and back in trip and I am not going to lie, even I doubted it, but this is obviously the key to him.

"My heart sunk when I got joined on the line, I thought Tom Eaves had just nabbed me, so I didn't know if I had won. I honestly thought I hadn't won to be honest.

 

"It was too close for comfort really. I thought I hadn't won so, to have had the result we have was incredible.

Me and Oxted had a good old battle from the three-pole and I thought that I would be doing well to hold on like I did, but Glen Shiel is such a game horse.

He is incredible." Glen Shiel and Hollie Doyle (navy cap)

1.55pm G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes 6f

1 GLEN SHIEL - Archie Watson 6-9-02 Hollie Doyle 16/1

2 Brando - Kevin Ryan 8-9-02 Tom Eaves 80/1

3 One Master - William Haggas 6-8-13 Pierre-Charles Boudot 11/2

Winner owned by Hambleton Racing Xxxvi & Partner

Breeder: Darley Breeding: ch g Pivotal - Gonfilia (GER) (Big Shuffle (USA))

Archie Watson - 1st winner on QIPCO British Champions Day

Hollie Doyle - 2nd winner on QIPCO British Champions Day

16 ran

Non-Runner: Dubai Station (Self Certificate, Going)

Time: 1m 16.74s

Distances: Nose, ½

Tote Win: £20.80

Places: £5.45 £18.45 £2.15

Exacta: £721.10

3/1 Fav Dream Of Dreams (8th) 

This year marks the 10th year of both QIPCO British Champions Day and QIPCO British Champions Series.

The Series showcases 35 of the UK's finest Flat races which are run at all of the UK's most iconic Flat festivals, from the Derby and St Leger, to Glorious Goodwood and Royal Ascot, presenting unparalleled, quality racing across 10 of the country's finest racecourses.

It showcases world-class sporting action across five different categories - Sprint, Mile, Middle Distance, Long Distance and Fillies & Mares.

The Series culminates in QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot racecourse on Saturday 17th October, the most valuable raceday in the UK with £2.5 million in prize money on offer.

The day also boasts an unprecedented UK card comprising four Group 1 contests; a Group 2 and competitive mile handicap.

Race schedule:

● 1.20pm - The QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 2)

● 1.55pm - The QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1)

● 2.30pm - The QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1)

● 3.05pm - The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Sponsored by QIPCO (Group 1)

● 3.40pm - The QIPCO Champion Stakes (Group 1)

● 4.15pm - The Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored by QIPCO)