Cirrus Des Aigles ridden by Christophe Soumillon (red and grey)

Horse Talk: Top horse-racing tips and the latest news

An additional £1million in prize money for a single day’s racing has been mooted following news of QIPCO Holdings new contract to sponsor the British Champions Series.

The improved five year deal raises the prospect that the pot for British Champions Day at Ascot may be boosted from £3million to £4million within the five year term of the improved deal.

The continued sponsorship not only secures the future of the series, which was successfully implemented last year, but also increases the chances of the trio of non-Group 1 races on Champions Day being upgraded.

“This is fantastic news for British horseracing,” Chris McFadden, chairman of the British Champions Series said: We are absolutely delighted with this new, long-term deal with QIPCO, which puts British Champions Series Limited on a firm financial footing and which will enable us to meet our commercial objectives.

“The series is a partnership between QIPCO and British Racing and on behalf of everyone involved in the industry in this country, and in particular Newmarket and Goodwood who are thrilled to benefit from the long-term sponsorship of the Guineas Festival and Sussex Stakes, I would like to thank (QIPCO chief executive) Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani and his brothers for their fantastic on-going support.”

Sheikh Hamad said: “We believe that Britain hosts the world’s best horseracing. We respect and appreciate the heritage of the sport and we would like it to maintain its status as the most important and deep-rooted in the world.

“This new deal highlights our commitment to the sport in this country and our desire to make QIPCO British Champions Day the best day’s flat racing in the international calendar.”