THE QIPCO British Champions Day meeting at Ascot on Saturday has been hailed as one of the best day’s racing ever seen in Europe, if not the world, writes Dave Wright.

Many of the top horses from England, Ireland and France competed for more than £4.26million in prize money across six races, with four being Group One events.

The Queen was among the crowd of nearly 32,000 who witnessed a truly marvellous and unforgettable afternoon of racing in a carnival atmosphere.

Rod Street, chief executive of Racing Enterprises Limited, Great British Racing and British Champions Series Limited, said: “It lived up to its billing as the best day’s racing ever to have been put on in Great Britain with 10 Classic winners and 23 individual Group 1 winners competing.

“Champions Day is only five years old but we are delighted with the way in which it has so quickly established itself as one of the best race days anywhere in the world and as the finale to the British Flat racing season.

“Each of the races produced some sensational performances with Almanzor reigning supreme in the British Champion Stakes, and Minding showing just how versatile she is with a smooth success in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.”

After winning on the French-trained Almanzor, jockey Christophe Soumillon commented: “This is one of the most important race meetings in the world – I love to come to Royal Ascot and then here later in the year. It’s great to come here and see the big crowd.”

Soumillon and Almanzor recorded their second victory in a month over recent Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine Found – the pair having finished one-two in the Irish Champion Stakes.

French Derby winner Almanzor, confirming his reputation as the best colt of the Classic generation, may return to Ascot next year for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Minding showed the brilliance that gave her seven Group One wins, taking the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes for trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore.

The Galileo three-year-old filly and a dual Classic winner this season held off Ribchester by half a length.

Remarkably, it was a first Champions Day victory for Moore after 25 unsuccessful rides at the meeting since its inception.

Broadcaster Clare Balding, described it as “without doubt the best day’s racing of the year, anywhere in the world.”

During the afternoon there was also a parade of medal-winning Rio Olympians and Paralympians from Team GB, including Jade Jones (Taekwondo), show jumper Nick Skelton and athlete Hannah Cockroft.

Gold medallist Skelton presented the 2016 Stobart Champion Flat Jockey trophy to 38-year-old Jim Crowley, who was born just across the road from the racecourse at Heatherwood Hospital.

Josephine Gordon, who two weeks earlier had carried the Royal Ascot Racing Club colours to victory on Symposium at their home course, received the Champion Apprentice trophy.

Saturday’s attendance of 31,835 was more than 1,000 up on last year and well above the 2014 figure of 28,741.

Ascot’s first National Hunt meeting of the new season will be a week on Saturday, October 29 (first race 1.55pm), when the feature race is the £100,000 Gold Cup Chase over three miles.

Racing is followed at 6.15pm by one of the region’s largest fireworks spectaculars.

Children under 18 will be admitted free.