'I'd be really disappointed if she didn't win' - what top trainers are telling us about their British Champions Day chances

Aidan O'Brien, Andrew Balding and Jerome Reynier spoke to the press on Thursday ahead of a blockbuster British Champions Day on Saturday, so what were the key nuggets they shared?

Lazzat goes back to winning formula

Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes hero Lazzat bids for more big-race success at the track, and Jerome Reynier has prepared him exactly as he did for Royal Ascot.

The four-year-old has been building up for the British Champions Sprint (2.05) at the trainer's base near Marseille in the south of France – something he did not do before he could only finish fifth when sent off the red-hot favourite for last month's Sprint Cup.

Lazzat: Royal Ascot winnerCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

"He's been very happy to be back at home," Reynier said. "Between the Maurice de Gheest and Haydock he was based in Deauville, and that wasn't the training environment he was used to. 

"We've got a benchmark on what he can achieve and he's been very, very well for the last few weeks. Now he needs to show the world he is the best European sprinter."

Has O'Brien finally got The Lion In Winter right?

It has not been the season many would have hoped for The Lion In Winter, but there was a glimmer of hope from Aidan O'Brien that his big win may be coming soon.

There is a sense in the camp that a narrow defeat when third in last month's Prix Du Moulin has put him spot-on for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (3.25).

The Lion In Winter: bidding for Group 1 breakthroughCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

O'Brien said: "It would be massive [to get his first Group 1]. When we made the decision to go to the Derby we had to run him in the Dante, but he wasn't ready for that, and then it was fair enough too that he didn't stay in the Derby. From then we viewed him as a miler.

"We had to get a run in against the three-year-olds before taking on the older horses, but we put a line through his next Deauville run altogether, and he was back getting there at Longchamp. There have been twists and turns and it hasn't been straightforward, but that's not unusual and we're happy with where he is now."

Balding still has full faith in star filly

Many may have lost faith in Kalpana, but her trainer Andrew Balding is not among them. 

He immediately nominated her as his best hope of a winner at the meeting, as she defends her British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (2.45) title. He also insisted this was not an afterthought following her seventh-placed finish in the Arc.

Kalpana: bidding to bounce backCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"She's got an outstanding chance and I'd be really disappointed if she didn't win, to be honest," he said.

"It's very much frustrating she hasn't won this year, but her seconds in the Pretty Polly and King George were great efforts – they were top-class performances where she lost little in defeat. This was always a possibility after France as we saved her for an autumn campaign."

This is Facteur Cheval's time to shine

Dual Queen Elizabeth II Stakes runner-up Facteur Cheval is an outsider for this year's running (3.25), but Reynier was in no mood to dampen his chances.

He said: "We've been working towards this target all year. We always hoped Facteur Cheval would be able to come back here and he's in amazing shape. He's a fighter and I've found that fighting spirit back.

"This year the ground will be much different, but he won his Dubai Turf on good ground and he can cope with anything. He's shown the world he's been able to beat the best at a big price before and put in an amazing performance."

Read more on British Champions Day:

Confirmed runners and riders for the five Group 1 races on British Champions Day 

Four key takeouts as the final fields for Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday are revealed 

'John can whinge a little bit after races' - Aidan O'Brien can't wait to take on Ombudsman and Gosden camp in fiery-looking Champion Stakes 

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