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British Champions day could well be called farewell to the past and hail the future.
Two young jockeys who are partners stole the day, with Hollie Doyle winning the first on Trueshan who galloped away with the Long Distance Cup and following that up with her first G1 on Glen Shiel in the Sprint.
Then partner Tom Marquand won the G1 Champion Stakes on Addeybb and followed that with a win on Njord in the Balmoral.
They are a delightful couple who have youth, enthusiasm and a great attitude all on their side and they are the future.
The Long Distance Cup was notable also for the poor showing by Stradivarius. He did not seem to handle the going and also showed signs of this being the end of his run for the year. It is difficult to keep horses up to their best when the season goes on for so long. Search For A Song was second but 7 ½ lengths behind the winner and Fujaira Prince third.
The Sprint was a thriller with Hollie Doyle just getting Glen Shiel 16/1 over the line to win her first G1 with Brando who ran a blinder only a nose away second. One Master did well to finish third and Oxted who is another great story was 5th.
Wonderful Tonight was wonderful that afternoon as she gave trainer David Munusier his first G1 in the F&M – William Buick was on board. Dame Malliot was second for Hollie Doyle and there was a great run by Passion in third.
France took the honours in the QEII when The Revenant went one better than the previous year with P-C Boudot riding the Francis Graffard trained raider. There was a surprise second in Roseman -Varian-Atzani who started on 28/1 and odds-on favourite Palace Pier not able to pick up on the going and finishing 3 ¼ lengths away third.
The Champion Stakes went to Addeybb with William Haggas and Tom Marquand combining for a UK G1 to the two G1s they won in Australia. French raider Skalleti was second 2 1/4l further back and Magical could only manage third this time, another run that suggested paddock the next move.
With the going soft in the straight and squelchy around parts of the round course it was too much for some of the more favoured runners, but a day to be remembered forever by the young couple who scooped the best part of the pool.
