Kings and queens: the stars who could light up Champions Day

It wasn't just the wet weather that had racing fans thinking of the autumn on Wednesday, with entries for October's Qipco British Champions Day also being revealed. Here we pick seven stars we hope will light up Ascot.

Enable

If the purpose of Champions Day is to crown the year's best horses, then Enable simply has to be there. She was the star in the Investec Oaks at Epsom and dazzled again in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh before cementing her position at the top table with a devastating display in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

The three-year-old holds an entry in the British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes, but if racing fans really want to see Enable sizzle again then the Champion Stakes has to be the desired landing spot.

Almanzor: winning the Champions Stakes at Ascot last OctoberCredit: Mark Cranham

Almanzor

One of the great shames of the summer so far has been the lack of Almanzor, the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained star who has not been seen since his win in the Qipco Champion Stakes last year.

There are some who question the strength of the opposition behind Enable at Ascot last month, for all the field contained Group 1 winners. Almanzor, on the other hand, represents an outstanding rival and a clash between the two would be one to savour.

Brametot

If Almanzor cannot make it, his stablemate Brametot would be a fine substitute. Unbeaten this year, the son of Rajsaman is a dual Classic winner and shaped with any amount of promise when overcoming Waldgeist in the Prix du Jockey Club.

The colt represents different ownership than Almanzor, so even if the older horse is fully fit we may yet see the pair of them at Ascot. If you weren't excited already, you must be feeling it now.

Winter

Enable is not the only three-year-old filly to make her mark in 2017, with Winter now a four-time Group 1 winner and the leader in the race for the Cartier Horse Of The Year crown following her Nassau Stakes win at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

The beautiful grey, like Enable, holds entries in both the Champion Stakes and Fillies and Mares.

Harry Angel - Adam Kirby wins from Limato - Harry Bentley and Caravaggio - Ryan Moore The Darley July Cup Newmarket 15/7/2017©cranhamphoto.comCredit: Mark Cranham

Harry Angel

The July Cup form took a bit of a boost thanks to Brando over the weekend and this young sprinter looks to have the world at his feet, especially given Caravaggio's apparent loss of form.

Clive Cox's sprinter has unfinished business at Ascot, having gone down to Caravaggio in the Commonwealth Cup, and what better way to set the record straight than by winning the British Champions Sprint.

Big Orange and Order Of St George

When the 2017 season is done and dusted, it is likely to be remembered in large part due to the titanic battle served up by these star stayers in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

We missed out on a rematch at Goodwood, so it is only fair we get to see round two back at Ascot in the British Champions Long Distance Cup.