Unique Morning Line and drone for QIPCO British Champions Day

13 October 2015

The QIPCO British Champions Series is poised to come to a thrilling conclusion at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday 17th October with the UK’s richest day - that celebrates a £4.1 million purse - broadcast live on Channel 4. 

Channel 4’s coverage of the QIPCO British Champions Day begins at 8am with a unique Morning Line that takes in a distinctive format for the breakfast show.  Presenter Nick Luck will be joined in the Final Furlong Marquee by special guests Tom Segal, Frankie Dettori and this year’s champion jockey Silvestre de Sousa, as well as an invited audience.  Emma Spencer and Rishi Persad will roam amongst the audience to encourage interaction between the public and the panel.  The grouping will also look back at a memorable flat season ahead of a fabulous finale.

The afternoon coverage starts early at 12.30pm and takes in the entire six-racecard including the £1.3 million QIPCO Champions Stakes at 3:05pm.  And, on the day that crowns the season’s champion jockeys and owner, Channel 4 is delighted to welcome the former three times Champion Flat jockey, Richard Hughes, to its QIPCO British Champions Day afternoon team.

A technological first for British horseracing is Channel 4’s employment of a live BATCAM, commonly referred to as a drone; that will capture an aerial view of the day’s racing which will complement the several special camera angles that will show off racing at its spectacular best.

Channel 4’s highly successful innovation of Jockey Cam, which since the Grand National has given the viewer the ultimate insight into race riding, will be in action this Saturday.  And, for the first time it is intended to be live-linked to bring those unique images even quicker to the audience.

Denise Large, Channel 4 Racing’s Director, explains: “The Jockey Cam will be worn in all six races on QIPCO British Champions Day.  The camera is the culmination of a great amount of support from the Professional Jockeys Association and the British Horseracing Authority.”

Afternoon features include a stable visit to Clive Cox to see Kodi Bear in training ahead of his challenge in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.  While members of the Channel 4 Racing team will reprise each of the five British Champion Series categories.

Steve Lyle, Channel 4’s Commission Editor for Sport, adds: “It's been a sensational season on the flat and the QIPCO British Champions Day provides the perfect climax.  It's a fantastic afternoon when racing shows what an attractive, exciting and innovative sport it is.  And with our enhanced coverage to match, it should be a great day for race fans and newcomers alike.”

 

Saturday, October 17th

The Morning Line (8am) with special guests Silvestre de Sousa and Frankie Dettori

CHANNEL 4 RACING: QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS DAY (12:30 – 4:00pm)

• 12:45pm              QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup
• 1:20pm                QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes
• 1:55pm                QIPCO British Champions Fillies’ and Mares’ Stakes
• 2:30pm                Queen Elizabeth II Stakes sponsored by QIPCO
• 3:05pm                QIPCO Champion Stakes 
• 3:45pm                Balmoral Handicap sponsored by QIPCO

TEAM: Nick Luck, Rishi Persad, Mick Fitzgerald, Emma Spencer, Jim McGrath, Graham Cunningham, Richard Hughes, Tanya Stevenson, Brian Gleeson and Simon Holt.