Almeraq claimed his third Group 1 victory of the season with a narrow win in the British Champions Sprint at Ascot on Saturday, October 17, 2026, beating Paborus by a neck under Tom Marquand. Trained by William Haggas and owned and bred by Shadwell, the four-year-old reinforced his credentials as one of Britain’s leading sprinters, while Division finished third.
The victory followed Almeraq’s impressive success over Paborus in the Sprint Cup at Haydock Park. However, the rematch at Ascot proved much closer, with Paborus delivering a determined challenge along the far rail before Almeraq found enough in the closing stages to secure the Group 1 prize.
Paborus, trained by Ed Bethell and ridden by Daniel Tudhope, made effective use of his position near the far rail and put the favourite under pressure. Marquand guided Almeraq across to launch his challenge, and his mount responded strongly to wear down Paborus in the final stages.
Division, another Wathnan Racing representative trained by Haggas and ridden by James Doyle, finished third, more than three lengths behind the runner-up. The race attracted 16 runners.
Almeraq Adds British Champions Sprint to Outstanding Season
The British Champions Sprint victory marked Almeraq’s second success at Ascot during the season, following his triumph in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. His latest achievement completed a remarkable campaign featuring three Group 1 victories.
Haggas praised the winner’s performance and believed Almeraq deserved recognition as Britain’s Champion Sprinter. The trainer also highlighted the horse’s recovery from a serious fall at York the previous year, describing him as a top-class performer.
The trainer acknowledged the contribution of the wider team, particularly Andrew Tinkler, who rode Almeraq regularly at home and played an important role in his preparation.
Marquand also praised the sprinter’s versatility, pointing to his performances across different ground conditions throughout the season. Almeraq had demonstrated his ability on good to firm ground at Ascot, handled heavy conditions at Haydock Park and returned to good ground for the British Champions Sprint.
The jockey explained that the Ascot contest had presented a tougher challenge than the Sprint Cup because Almeraq had more ground to make up in the closing stages. Despite the demanding finish, the four-year-old produced the necessary acceleration to prevail at the highest level.
Maureen Haggas expressed her delight for Sheikha Hissa and the entire team, highlighting the horse’s resilience throughout his career. She also noted that Almeraq particularly enjoyed softer ground and praised his achievements during the season.
Paborus Finishes Second as Division Shows Promise
Paborus delivered another strong performance against Almeraq, finishing second after pushing the eventual winner close in the closing stages. Tudhope said he had been confident of his mount’s chances during the race but acknowledged the quality of the winner.
Richard Brown of Wathnan Racing expressed disappointment with the result while praising Paborus and Bethell’s training team. He remained optimistic that the horse would have further opportunities to secure a major victory in a future campaign.
Division’s third-place finish offered encouragement for the seasons ahead. Doyle welcomed the performance after a challenging year, while Haggas believed the three-year-old would benefit from further development over the winter.
Haggas recorded his sixth Qatar Racing British Champions Day winner, while Marquand secured his fifth victory at the prestigious meeting. The result further strengthened Almeraq’s standing among the leading sprinters in Britain and capped a successful season at the highest level.
Almeraq won the British Champions Sprint at Ascot by a neck from Paborus, securing his third Group 1 victory of the season under Tom Marquand for trainer William Haggas. Division finished third after a strong effort.
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