IT is difficult to believe it now, but when British Champions Day was first mooted as a possibility it prompted a chorus of dissent from that most vocal and difficult-to-please of groups, ‘The Doubters’.

The Doubters never stop doubting, but they do - mercifully and advisedly - seem to have turned their attentions elsewhere in this instance. Anyone who thought the latest British flat-season finale - the sixth in all - was other than a success is probably following the wrong sport.

In the occasion’s two biggest winners - Almanzor in the Champion Stakes and Minding in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes - we had two bona-fide champions, but also a reminder that this year’s Irish Champion Stakes - in which that pair finished first and third, with Arc winner and Champion runner-up Found splitting them - had been a really special race.

In at least one significant respect the Champion and the Queen Elizabeth II were dissimilar, however.

The former was steadily-run and turned into a sprint from the turn, which Almanzor proved superbly equipped for, while the latter was strongly-run, with Minding striking for home with two furlongs to go and holding on gamely.

Almanzor ran his final three furlongs in 34.44s (39.2 mph) - a speed bettered in only one race (a five furlong handicap) at the course this year - while Minding’s last two furlongs went by in 24.85s (36.2 mph).

Almanzor’s overall time inevitably suffered for that early hanging around, with his timefigure a mere 107, but those sectionals suggest he is well worth his form assessments in the low-to-mid 130s and his billing as the best active horse in Europe.

The Champion also saw a most encouraging return to action from Jack Hobbs, who finished well into third on his first start since injury in April. The race may have been falsely-run, but it is difficult to quibble in any major way with the strength of the form or the order of merit at the finish.

Minding’s timefigure was a healthier 117, though still a fraction below her Oaks peak of 119. She was treading water somewhat in the final furlong, as Ribchester and Lightning Spear nibbled into her advantage. But, contrary to some suggestions, sectionals indicate that she was a bit better than the result, more so than her rivals.

There have been better females around over the years - though not many, and not by much - but possibly none tougher, more versatile and more consistent at the top level than Minding.

Perhaps the best news of all to come out of British Champions Day was that Almanzor will remain in training for next year and that Minding may do so also. Even The Doubters might get invigorated by such a prospect.