Stradivarius heads entries for British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday
Qipco British Champions Day promises to be packed with star quality after 25 Group 1 winners remained in contention for Saturday's showpiece fixture at the five-day entry stage.
Fan favourite Stradivarius will be among the headline acts at Ascot and the five-year-old entire is set to complete a glittering campaign when bidding for back-to-back victories in the Long Distance Cup.
Full card for Qipco British Champions Day
His trainer John Gosden has also left in lightly-raced September Stakes winner Royal Line, while Aidan O'Brien could fire 2018 St Leger winner Kew Gardens at the race.
The last three winners of the Champions Sprint are in line to do battle again, with last year's winner Sands Of Mali set to take on Librisa Breeze and The Tin Man.
Advertise, winner of the course-and-distance Commonwealth Cup and Prix Maurice de Gheest this season, is the current favourite. Sprint Cup winner Hello Youmzain, Prix de la Foret heroine One Master and the Michael Dods-trained Mabs Cross could feature among the opposition.
Make A Challenge, who has improved from a mark of 66 to 109 this season, has been supplemented for the race by Denis Hogan.
Last year's Champion Stakes was a memorable race with Cracksman producing a stunning performance and John Gosden will bid for another win in the race with Mehdaayih.
Top quality older mares Coronet and Deirdre could also be in the mix, as well as Japan and Hermosa.
Fox Tal, who sprung a surprise on his return to action at Doncaster, could bid to upset the odds after being supplemented by trainer Andrew Balding.
Globetrotting star Benbatl returned in emphatic style in the Joel Stakes and could be a tough nut to crack in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, but rising French star The Revenant has been heavily supported since impressing in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein on Arc day.
Queen Anne winners Accidental Agent and Lord Glitters could also run, along with a plethora of Aidan O'Brien-trained runners including Magical, Hermosa, Circus Maximus and 2,000 Guineas winner Magna Grecia.
The Fillies & Mares could be a cracking race with Irish Oaks and Prix Vermeille winner Star Catcher one of three fillies entered by Gosden.
His other possibles include Oaks winner Anapurna, who won her second Group 1 in the Prix de Royallieu on her latest start, and Sparkle Roll.
Punters back Addeybb as prospect of heavy-ground Champions Day grows
Champions Day: switch to Ascot's inner 'hurdles course' looks inevitable
Punters pile into mud-lover The Revenant with Ascot straight track riding heavy
Read The Lowdown from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post app for all the day's going updates, news and tips
Published on inBritish Champions Day
Last updated
Copy- 'It'll continue to thrive' - Rod Street says Champions Day is in good hands as he bids farewell to fixture he helped create
- Bumper young crowd praised as over 29,000 racegoers on track for British Champions Day at Ascot
- 'It would be foolish to think it was a pure fluke' - what did our experts make of Anmaat's Champion Stakes win?
- 'The best horse won' - Jim Crowley executes an astonishing success on a Champions Day of redemption
- 'I didn't see the winner coming' - Calandagan team rue narrow loss while below-par Economics is found with blood in his nose
- 'It'll continue to thrive' - Rod Street says Champions Day is in good hands as he bids farewell to fixture he helped create
- Bumper young crowd praised as over 29,000 racegoers on track for British Champions Day at Ascot
- 'It would be foolish to think it was a pure fluke' - what did our experts make of Anmaat's Champion Stakes win?
- 'The best horse won' - Jim Crowley executes an astonishing success on a Champions Day of redemption
- 'I didn't see the winner coming' - Calandagan team rue narrow loss while below-par Economics is found with blood in his nose