Balding chases O'Brien in Ascot trainers' title contest

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 17:20 · Archive

Andrew Balding and Aidan O'Brien battle for the British Flat trainers' championship at Ascot's Champions Day on Saturday.

Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday marks the finale of the British Flat season. The card features five Group One races, a £250,000 juvenile race and, weather permitting, good racing conditions.

The standout narrative is the live contest for the UK Flat trainers' championship between Andrew Balding and Aidan O'Brien. Less than a month ago, Balding was a double-figure price to win the title for the first time, while O'Brien was heavily favoured to secure his third consecutive title and ninth overall. O'Brien starts the week as a 1-2 favourite with Paddy Power, whilst Balding is at 6-4.

Both trainers have dominated the season to an extraordinary degree. Each has already surpassed John Gosden's previous record prize-money total of £8.52m in a calendar year. Unless circumstances change dramatically, both are likely to become the first trainers to reach £9m in prize money in a single year in Britain, yet one will still finish second in the championship. William Haggas, currently third in the table, noted that whilst he has had a strong year, he trails the leading pair by £3m.

How it is being reported

• Calanda can again be Ascot ChampionASCOT’s British Champions Day this Saturday provides a final chance for some of the stars of the Flat season to strut their stuff before the campaign winds down. On a star-studded card, the aim is to hunt out a bit of ante-post value and take on the many short-priced favourites set to line up. There [...]City AM · 13 Oct, 17:03
• Champions Day – and Balding v O’Brien – can give Flat season a fitting finaleThe Ascot head-to-head battle for the trainers’ title adds spice to a fascinating day of racing on Saturday With five Group Ones, a £250,000 juvenile race and a decent racing surface (if the weather forecast is correct), the schedule for Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday looks like the fitting finale to the British Flat season that its architects envisaged 15 years ago. Add in the bonus of a live contest for the UK Flat trainers’ championship and this is a card that promises twists and turns from the first race to the last. Less than a month ago, Andrew Balding was a double-figure price to…Guardian Sport · 12 Oct, 17:02

In this story: Andrew Balding · Aidan O'Brien · Ascot · John Gosden · William Haggas · Calandagan

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